News

Forty area school children, gathered Monday to learn about a community splash pad project set for this summer, here in Earl Baker Park.

Having already secured about half of the $200,000 needed to make the splash pad a reality, the community playground committee was surprised with a $10,000 cheque from the local Legion, Branch 48 in Morrisburg at the launch of the fundraising campaign.

“What a great way to start,” said Matt McCooeye, committee spokesperson. “In our last campaign, they were among the first to step up and contribute. We really felt their generosity served as a springboard for all of the great community support we received in our last campaign.”

The community playground group, which was created in 2011, piloted a community driven campaign that recruited over 225 volunteers and raised over $114,00 to build the playground in Earl Baker Park.

The splash pad is phase two of that 2011 project.

Legion president Graham Houze, said they were happy to provide $10,000 to this cause. “It’s a very worthwhile cause for the children and the people of the area, so we thought we would throw our support behind it with this donation.”

“The concept is about the whole community working together to deliver something for the kids,” said McCooeye.

Like the in phase one, the children will have a say in their new splash pad, which the committee intends to have completed by the end of this year.

“It is important for us to engage all people in South Dundas, including the kids,” said McCooeye. “We want to get the kids’ input into what they want included. We can’t wait to hear what they have to say.”

The kids will get their say as part of the ‘Dotmacracy’ when the committee visits area schools in June. Kids will have the opportunity to vote on their favourite features, and that input will be used for the creation of the final design.

Since the project is meant to be a community endeavour, anyone who has an idea to help fund raise for the splash pad is welcome to bring it to the committee.

Already, a local band – One Night Standards, has approached the committee to hold a fund raising dance for the splash pad. Lane Hunter, Oak Hunter, Troy McMillan and Night Hunter will play the Morrisburg Legion, May 17, with all proceeds going to the splash pad.

[…]

Upper Canada Village’s new fall event Pumpkinferno continued its winning ways in Ottawa April 24,  when Ottawa Tourism named it New Company of the Year.  

The award category recognizes an event or company two years or less in operation that through its success has stimulated the economy.  

Pumpkinferno which was launched in 2012 has certainly done that.  

In just two years of operation, not only has Pumpkinferno taken the region by storm hosting almost 75,000 people but it has contributed an estimated $8 million in economic impacts to the region’s economy. 

“Over the past three years we have taken a close look at our business operations and have encouraged our staff to be innovative in their approach to developing new visitor experiences.  Pumpkinferno is a great example of that type of thinking. Not only does it showcase amazing artistic and creative talents that go into making this such an amazing event, but our business strategy is really solid and surpassing our projections” commented Darren Dalgleish, General Manager & CEO, St. Lawrence Parks Commission. 

Festival and Events Ontario recognized Pumpkinferno as Ontario’s Best New Event in 2012 and in November 2013 the Tourism Association of Ontario honoured it with the award for Ontario’s Tourism Event of the Year.

“The Pumpkinferno team exceeded expectations to deliver an event that attracted over 35,000 guests in our first year and then topped that number last fall with over 38,000 visits.  We believe we have something special here and it is so gratifying to see this acknowledgement from the tourism community.  It was an honour just to be named a finalist in the Ottawa Tourism awards.  Our hats are off to the other excellent nominees.” said Geoff Waycik, Manager of Upper Canada Village.

Upper Canada Village gets an early start to the 2014 season opening on Wednesday, May 7. 

[…]

News Release
Ontario Election On June 12, 2014

May 2, 2014

Today, Premier Kathleen Wynne met with the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario who accepted her recommendation that Parliament be dissolved for a general election.

The official documents will be presented to his Honour later this afternoon, at which time the House will be officially dissolved.

The writs for the general election will be signed on Wednesday, May 7.

Under the Elections Act, the election would ordinarily take place on Thursday, June 5.

However, the Chief Electoral Officer has identified June 5 as a day of religious significance, and has recommended Thursday, June 12 as the alternate election day.

The recommendation has been accepted and the election for Ontario's 41st Parliament will take place on Thursday, June 12.
 

[…]

About 10 minutes into Memories of the Summer of Love, I suddenly found myself growing very nostalgic.

Where, I wondered, are my love beads, my fringed vest and flower headband, my button reading “Make Love Not War”, my white GoGo boots, my psychedelic tie-dyed India shirt, the iron with which I used to press my hair? Where did the 60s go? 

Well, the answer is that the sounds and sights of that turbulent, game-changing decade are on stage at Upper Canada Playhouse in Morrisburg and playing until May 4. Judging by the constant applause at a recent performance of Memories of the Summer of Love, the Chris McHarge and Colin Stewart celebration of the music and the times is a hit.

The stage show takes audiences from the 60s roots in early Haight-Ashbury to the star-studded 1967 Monterey Folk Festival. Along the way Memories showcases music ranging from the Beach Boys (“They practically invented California Rock”) to the British Invasion starting in 1964. (“The British succeeded in recapturing their former colonies.” )

The production hi-lights duos like Sonny and Cher and celebrates the merger of rock and folk, the “good time music” characterized by the Lovin’ Spoonful.

The show is an exceptionally well rounded look, complete with computer screens, at all aspects of 60s culture. 

The songs of Bob Dylan, the “guru for the growing counter culture” herald the days of protest against the once popular Vietnam War. The Association’s “Along Came Mary” secretly praises the properties of marijuana, as the 60s explored drugs and invited young people to “turn on, tune in, drop out.”

Memories of the Summer of Love builds to its crescendo with its salute to “heavy metal”. According to author Chris McHarge, no group epitomized the spirit of social and political change, with its fusion of rock and blues, better than the Jefferson Airplane. The audience clearly agreed as they joined in on the singers’ explosive Don’t You Want Somebody to Love?

This exciting, non-stop musical journey on stage at the Playhouse rests squarely on the shoulders of three versatile and uber-talented singers, Derek Marshall, Natalie Howard and Paul Wilson, and their four man live band that, I am quite certain, can literally play anything.

Switching vocal styles (and wonderful, outlandish, but very 60s’ costumes) with deceptive ease and speed, the three singers light up the stage. This is a show that demands stylistic flexibility and stamina from its performers.  

From Natalie Howard’s  powerful rendition of Janis Joplin’s serio-comic “Mercedes Benz”, to Paul Wilson and Derek Marshall’s extraordinary harmonies on heart-felt Simon & Garfunkel classics, this is a show that delivers.

My hair is short, the GoGo boots long since fell apart, my tie-dyed India shirt was bundled into a scrap bag years ago, but the music of that extraordinary decade, the 1960s, is alive and well, and just as fantastic as it ever was.

 Don’t miss your chance to take in Memories of the Summer of Love. The production runs at Upper Canada Playhouse until May 4. For tickets, contact 613-543-3713 or 1-877-550-3650.

Peace and love, brothers and sisters.

[…]

The larger portion of a fisheries compensation project associated with the $35 million renovation at the Port of Johnstown, will be taking place at Riverside Heights later this summer.

Six years of collaboration by several stakeholders to complete renovations at the Port of Johnstown was celebrated at the port April 15. 

The cost of the work was covered in a three-way federal, provincial, municipal split.

Started over the winter, the first fisheries compensation project included expansion of an existing Johnstown wetland into a larger habitat for fish and other aquatic life. 

It will be completed in June with planting of the shoreline.

Starting in August, under the supervision of South Nation Conservation Authority, a larger fisheries compensation project will be undertaken on property owned by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission at Riverside Heights. 

Both projects were required by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to compensate for fish habitat lost due to installation of a new wharf at the port.

Although outside the Port of Johnstown’s home municipality of Edwardsburgh / Cardinal, Riverside Heights was seen by all parties involved as a logical location for additional habitat compensation. 

The project will involve creation of an embayment with channels cut into existing marshland.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds explained that the portion of the project that will take place in South Dundas, is located on Parks of the St. Lawrence land, on the east side of the old County Road 8 allowance, south of County Road 2, at Riverside Heights.

“It will not have any effect on land use, as it is protected now as a provincially significant wetland,” he said.

SNC chairman Bill Smirle said he’s proud and pleased that all parties – not to mention St. Lawrence aquatic species – will gain from the compensation projects.

[…]

Health and wellness for everybody is the topic of the much anticipated “It’s All About “ME” Health and Wellness Fair coming up at the Winchester Arena on Wednesday, April 30 from 2-6 p.m. 

Presented by the Dundas Interagency there is no admission charge for the Health and Wellness Fair.

The Dundas Interagency is a local group comprised of various agencies representing North and South Dundas. 

Each year the Dundas Interagency plans a community event to showcase all that is available in Dundas County, and the Interagency is especially pleased this year to be offering a Health and Wellness Fair that’s focused on “It’s All About Me”. 

Too often caregivers of all kinds constantly look after others without stopping to care for themselves. This day is about celebrating the intrinsic value in all of us. 

Over 40 exhibitors will be at the “It’s All About Me” Health and Wellness Fair on April 30th. 

There will be a great selection of local business and services covering health, wellness, fitness, entertainment and much more. There will be demonstrations on food and food sources; exercise, yoga, dance; community resources on health, education, community building; arts and culture to name a few. 

Residents from throughout the Dundas community (North and South) are invited to come out and see what Dundas County has to offer and enjoy a variety of presentations and explore the many opportunities available. 

Demonstrations are happening throughout the day beginning at 2:15 p.m. In addition, each exhibitor will have a display and be happy to discuss their product or service. 

The mission of the Dundas County Interagency Committee is to provide a forum where individuals and organizations serving the residents of Dundas County can network for the benefit of the general population and to promote awareness of community services.

The initiative to promote networking began in the early 1980’s at a brown bag lunch meeting, where community workers from various agencies could share information.

In the early 1990’s, a number of interested individuals representing various agencies sat down together to plan a course of action. From a survey, quarterly meetings were established, which included time for networking and sharing information and, of course, lunch.

In 2005, representatives from several agencies serving Dundas County agreed to meet once or twice a year to share information about services available, participate in educational workshops, get to know new staff members and ensure that the community is well informed on what the agencies can provide

The committee has hosted a variety of event over the past five years.

Some of the 44 participants in the April 30th, “It’s All About Me” Health and Wellness Fair are: Canadian Blood Services, CMHA, Winchelsea Farms, TR Leger ALEPP, EOHU, SD&G County Library, Naomi’s Family Resource Centre, Upper Canada Playhouse, Eastern Ontario Agri-Food Network, Poppa Beans, Marion Stanley Mosaics, The Rythym Room, Linking Hands, Hartford, Kim Hutt, Garden Path Homemade Soap, Carefor Health and Community Services, Chesterville Dancers, Isagenix, Lakeshore Massage, Ryunolshi Tai Chi, Addictions Service Aura Culinary Arts.

[…]

Constable Ronald Pitt, the Morrisburg police officer shot and killed in the line of duty August 24, 1957, will likely be remembered with the dedication of the County Road 31 bridge over Highway 401.

Acting Sgt. Justin McKenna, with the SD&G OPP is overseeing the application to the Ministry of Transportation that allows for the naming of bridges on provincial highways in memory of police officers that have died in the line of duty.

Constable Ronald Pitt was shot by two gunmen as he approached a stolen vehicle in Morrisburg. Pitt never recovered from the injuries and those responsible were never apprehended.

Constable Pitt’s surviving next of kin, son Ronald Jr., who was only seven years old when his father died, lives in Scotland, and has given his blessing to the bridge dedication.

The next step in the application process is municipal approval, which was granted at the April 15, South Dundas council meeting.

The process is a long one and final approval rests with the Minister of Transportation.

Council commended McKenna for pursuing this dedication, saying that this recognition is long overdue and that naming this bridge would be a great way of showing respect for this fallen officer.

McKenna explained that this bridge was selected because, it was where one of the police checkpoints was set up when the crime occurred.

McKenna also asked council to consider a memorial plaque, in recognition of the fallen officer, somewhere near the waterfront, as the crime occurred in the old town, which is now underwater.

[…]

(SD&G) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is committed to road safety. As a driver, your actions directly impact your safety and the safety of other motorists.  With the Easter Long Weekend approaching and as the weather improves, the roads get busier.  Here are some important tips to remember every time you get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle:

Pay Attention to the Road.

• Distracted drivers are a safety risk! It is illegal in Ontario for drivers to use any handheld communication and entertainment devices (not exclusive to cell phones) while operating a motor vehicle. We have seen a decrease in the number of persons using handheld devices, but we are concerned about the large number of drivers who continue to engage in this dangerous activity.

Buckle Up – Seatbelts Save Lives.

• All Ontario drivers and passengers must wear a seatbelt in a properly adjusted and securely fastened manner.  It’s the law. Making sure your children are also secure in a properly installed child restraint is equally as important.  Wearing a seatbelt properly will dramatically increase your chance of surviving a motor vehicle collision.

Obeying the Speed Limits.

• Speed continues to be the number one cause of motor vehicle fatalities in Ontario. Slowing down, and obeying the posted speed limit, will reduce the number of fatal crashes and serious injury collisions.  Are you doing your part?

Slow Down or Move Over.

• Drivers must remember when passing an emergency vehicle stopped with its emergency lights activated in the same direction of travel, either in a lane or on the shoulder of a road or highway, to slow down and pass with caution. If the road has two or more lanes, you must move over into another lane, if it can be done safely.

Don’t Drink and Drive.

• Impaired driving continues to be among the leading criminal causes of death in Canada. The OPP conducts R.I.D.E. spot checks throughout the year to remove the threat of the impaired driver. Do your part by not drinking and driving.

Inspector Brendan MacDonald, SD&G OPP detachment Commander advises motorists that “our officers will be out in full force on our Provincial roadways this holiday weekend and traffic safety is in everyone’s best interest, lets continue to keep our highways safe”.

[…]

 

His many friends and political colleagues were saddened to learn of the death of longtime area resident and longtime former reeve of the village of Morrisburg, Bill Dillabough on Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at the Ottawa General Hospital. He was 84.

Bill leaves his loving wife of 66 years, Phyllis and his children, Bill (Michelle), Gord, Penny (Al) and Wendy (Paul).

First elected as a councillor for the village of Morrisburg in 1971, Bill’s career spanned 20 years. After two years as councillor, he was elected reeve, a position he held for 18 years until his retirement from municipal politics in 1991.

He was the longest serving reeve in the history of Morrisburg.

In his youth, Bill was a talented hockey player and his love of the game continued throughout his life. He managed the Morrisburg Combines in the early 1960’s, and was a member of the Ottawa District Hockey Association and president from 1972-74. In 1978, he was made a life member of the ODHA.

In 1981, he was appointed to the National Advisory Council of Amateur Sports and Physical Fitness by Stormont Dundas MP Ed Lumley. He was reappointed in 1983.

In a 1981 interview with The Leader, Bill said a highlight of his career was when he was the 10th Morrisburg reeve to become Warden of the United Counties. 

He spent a very busy year as warden, with the celebrations connected to the SD&G United Counties Bicentennial. One of the activities included the opportunity for Bill and his wife Phyllis to meet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip when they visited Upper Canada Village. His council at the time included Harland Veinotte, the late Karen Gorrell, Al Belanger and Bill Shearing.

During the 10th anniversary celebration of Old Home Week in 1980, as Mayor Bill participated in the “Dukes of Hazard” themed parade. It at that time that he was affectionately dubbed “Boss Hog”,  a beloved nickname that stuck, and one that he derived great pleasure from.

Dillabough told the Leader in the 1991 interview, that he didn’t believe in being involved in politics “just to be in it. It’s easy to criticize, but if you’re not involved, and not prepared to get involved, you shouldn’t criticize.”

In 1985, persuaded by Ontario Liberal leader David Peterson, Bill entered the provincial election as Liberal candidate for SD&G against Tory incumbent Noble Villeneuve. It was his lone bid for provincial office, and, he fared respectably well, garnering 7,037 votes.

Bill announced his retirement from municipal politics in September 1991. His council included, deputy reeve Peter McCooeye and councillors Dirk Testerink, Gord MacGregor and Peter Remillard.

Although he did not run for council in the 1991 election, he was acclaimed school trustee for the Village of Morrisburg and Williamsburg.

After his retirement, Bill’s love and interest for his community continued and in 2006, upon identifying a need in South Dundas that he felt he could fulfill, he made an unsuccessful bid for council.

Bill is known far and wide and was a true proponent of his Morrisburg community that he served faithfully for so many years.

[…]

Ontario Minister of Health and Long Term Care Deb Mattews was at Winchester District Memorial Hospital Monday to announce that the province’s Health Links initiative is expanding into this area.

Health Links is a program developed by the province, to give complex and high needs patients the benefit of better care through improved coordination between care providers in the region.

This area’s Health Link is called the Upper Canada Health Link. It will offer seniors and patients with complex conditions better care through personalized care plans and more coordinated support from a tightly knit team of providers.

The Health Link will help improve patient transitions within the health care system by encouraging providers to share patient information and work together to develop solutions that address each patient’s specific needs.

“Health Links are all about breaking down barriers for patients with complex conditions, making access to health care easier and less complicated,” said Health Minister Matthews. “By encouraging local care providers to work together we are ensuring our highest needs patients get the care they need when and where they need it and don’t end up falling through the cracks.”

On arriving at WDMH Matthews met with Evelyn Hunter of Williamsburg, a patient at WDMH, who is likely to benefit from Health Links.

“The results of this program are life changing,” said Matthews. The Health Links program came from the front lines of health care. 

“I know that Health Links is a good concept,” said Dr. Marilyn Crabtree, who has been a physician with the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic Group for 25 years. She looks forward to seeing the impact of the Health Links program from the primary care perspective. She said it should reduce referral times and give patients a better network to support their needs.

The idea of better coordination and integration aims to make the health care system more efficient. Health care costs are about half of the province’s operating budget. Five per cent of Ontario’s population consumes about two-thirds of the health care budget.

“Winchester District Memorial Hospital is pleased to be leading the Upper Canada Health Link. We know it is the right approach because it coordinates care around the specific needs of each patient,” said Cholly Boland, hospital CEO. “Working with our partners, we are committed to this type of patient-centred care.”

Health Links was launched in Ontario in December 2012, and since then 54 Health Links have been established, covering about half of the province, so far. 

“I want everyone to have access to this if they need it,” said Matthews. 

During her visit, Matthews did acknowledge the recent bed closures at WDMH, saying only that, “Winchester District Memorial Hospital made some difficult decisions that will not impact patient care.”

For the first stage of the Upper Canada Health Link, the provinces provides $60,000 in funding. Up to $1 million is available as the project progresses.

The creation of the Upper Canada Health Link is being led by the Winchester District Memorial Hospital and currently made up of the following providers; Canada Mental Health Association, Carefor Health and Community Services – Nor-Dun Center, Centre de santé communautaire de l’Estrie, Champlain CCAC, Dundas Manor, Findlay Creek FHO, Nation River FHO, Osgoode FHO, Regional Geriatric Program of Eastern Ontario, Rural Ottawa South Support Services, Russell Meadows Retirement, Seaway Valley CHC, St. Lawrence Medical Clinic (FHO), Township of Osgoode Care Center, Williamsburg Non-profit Housing Corporation, Woodland Villa.

[…]