News

 

By the end of August, the municipal portion of the Morrisburg Collegiate Institute redevelopment  could be complete.

The ongoing $4 million renovation project that will provide a new home for South Dundas’ municipal administration, a new home for the Morrisburg location of the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic and a new home for the Morrisburg library, is progressing very well, according to Don Lewis, South Dundas manager of buildings and facilities.

Lewis regularly meets with the contractors, and is impressed with the constant and steady progress being made with the renovation. 

“I go there two times a week and every time I go there is something new to look at,” he said. 

So far, the project is about a week ahead of schedule. 

By mid August, the contractors will likely have the second floor and third floors of the building ready for South Dundas township to start moving in, according to Lewis. 

Once the municipal portion of the building is ready, the contractors will then turn their full attention to the clinic portion of the building which will be housed on the first floor. When the clinic moves into their new space, the library renovation commences.

The entire project will be completed by the end of this calendar year. 

“As of April 11, we are on schedule and there have been no unforeseen costs to that date,” said Lewis.

Bourgon Construction was given the keys to the building December 2. 

In January the abatement of asbestos and lead paint in the building was complete. 

Now, the basement has been filled, the concrete floor has been poured, the steel wall studding is in, and the drywall on the second and third floors are 90 percent complete. Blocks are being laid for the elevator shaft, and that too should be complete this week.

[…]

 

“Audiences are in for a great production, I think,” said Aaron Solomon, who will be starring in the debut of a sensational new show, Wichita Lineman, which opens at Upper Canada Playhouse on April 23. 

“What I really like about Glen Campbell’s career, and about his music, is the incredible amount of variety it involves. When Leisa approached me and asked if I would like to handle the ‘Glen duties’ in her new show, I immediately said yes.”

Wichita Lineman, written by Leisa Way, the author of the  hugely popular Country Jukebox, Rhinestone Cowgirl and Sweet Dreams: a Tribute to Patsy Cline, has created her exciting 2013 production around Glen Campbell. 

“I was fascinated by the music of Glen Campbell,” said Way, who will  perform some numbers with Solomon in the show. “The man had just about everybody in the musical world on his Glen Campbell Good Time Hour on television. He sang with guests ranging from Tom Jones, Cher and Dean Martin to Kenny Rogers, the Monkees and Tina Turner. ”

Campbell’s extraordinary career and his wide-ranging musical versatility gave Way a buffet of songs and styles to incorporate into this new production. 

When it came to choosing a powerhouse singer and performer to star in Wichita Lineman, Aaron Solomon was Way’s immediate pick.

“When I first heard Aaron sing, I thought he would do an amazing job of performing a Glen Campbell concert. Frankly, I could listen to Aaron sing these songs all day. And (like Campbell), he’s a pretty amazing guitarist himself. We’ll also have him bring out his fiddle in the show too, as I know audiences love to hear him play.”

Aaron Soloman has a musical pedigree that most artists just dream of. “My heart and soul lie in performance,” the artist said.Classically trained,  a violinist, guitarist, actor and singer, the master of styles as diverse as jazz, swing, country, celtic, rock, blues and blue grass, Solomon has been thrilling audiences since childhood.

Visitors to Upper Canada Playhouse gained a powerful sense of his talents when they heard and saw him on stage in Johnny and June and Country Jukebox. 

Solomon says that it was an easy decision to agree to take on the challenges of performing in a Glen Campbell tribute. “I like the variety of things Campbell’s done in music, from pop to country. He was a great guitar player, and as a guitarist myself, I admire that talent. He was also a great singer: the man knew how to deliver a song.”

Solomon especially likes the versatility of this production. 

“Campbell was originally a member of a group known in Los Angeles as the ‘Wrecking Crew,’” he explained. 

“They were studio musicians who played back up for essentially every major artist. Campbell made such a strong musical impression in the studio that when Brian Wilson had to bow out, Campbell was invited to replace him and toured nation wide with the Beach Boys. He laughed later that that was one of the hardest things he ever did. 

Campbell often sang duets with performers like Tanya Tucker and Bobbie Gentry. In the 70’s he had a lot of pop rock hits. You know, I think practically everyone can sing at least one Glen Campbell song. He had incredible vocal and musical virtuosity.”

Preparing for his role in this new production has been intensive for the Toronto based artist.

“I’m not ‘playing’ Campbell exactly,” he said. “This production is a tribute to him. We will be saluting his music. I have had to work to achieve Campbell’s high vocal range…a little like I had to work to meet the low notes of Johnny Cash’s voice,” Solomon added, laughing. “And  because Campbell emphasized the guitar in so many of his songs, it’s been demanding for me to learn to play like this outstanding guitarist.”

Aaron Solomon is enthusiastic about returning to Upper Canada Playhouse for the debut of Wichita Lineman. 

“Donnie Bowes delivers a winning theatre season,” he said. “He is willing to trust Leisa and me to premiere a good new show. As artists, we love to come to the Playhouse, and to perform for  the audiences here.”

Wichita Lineman premieres at Upper Canada Playhouse on April 23, running until May 5, with both evening and matinee performances. 

For tickets and additional information, contact the box office at 613-543-3713, 1-800-550-3650 or visit www.uppercanadaplayhouse.com

[…]

 

“We are spending these two days in intensive training,” said Chris McDonough, chief of South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services. “We are training to learn how to safely remove fire fighters who may have become trapped in smoke, or in actual fires or in collapsed buildings.”

Firefighters from the three South Dundas stations gathered at the Morrisburg fire hall on Saturday, April 13, and again on Sunday, April 14, for special Rapid Intervention Training (RIT). The course was taught by Mark van der Feyst, president of Firestar Services Inc., and his highly qualified, expert staff. 

Firestar Services Inc. delivers high quality training for service professionals, offering workshops and classroom instruction and demonstrating practical  techniques for dealing with fire, chemical and hazardous matter emergencies. 

“Many fire departments have begun to train their personnel in the concepts of rescuing downed, trapped or injured firefighters,” chief McDonough explained. “The concept of rapid intervention teams is not new. It’s been around for 10-15 years in the US, but has only begun to infiltrate the Canadian fire service in the last five years. What was once a trend is now a standard practice with many fire departments implementing some kind of a RIT program.”

Van der Feyst and his instructors stressed that safely rescuing a fire fighter is actually a very different proposition than rescuing a civilian. 

“A fire fighter, in full gear, carrying all of his equipment, on the average could weigh close to 300 pounds,” van der Feyst told the South Dundas teams. “This is a very different situation than rescuing a civilian. For example, staircases in older buildings are often wooden and narrow and may turn several times. In blinding smoke and darkness, with air at a premium, special techniques must be learned to bring a fallen or injured firefighter to safety in these circumstances.”

Using the former Loyalist Lodge as an additional training area, fire fighters learned and practiced, hands on, the best ways to stage rescues of injured colleagues in constricted areas and under extreme conditions.

“To be an RIT firefighter requires special training. It requires emphasis on many subjects that need to be looked at from the RIT perspective,” said McDonough. 

“Is every fire department able to provide this type of training to each of its members? Probably not all at once, but over time, each department can. How and when is up to each department. This is the kind of training that is needed and beneficial for a firefighter to be proficient at rescuing downed, lost or trapped firefighters.”

[…]

 

Myrna Anderson, a member of the team which organized and ran the April 6 Pulling Together fund raiser on behalf of the Froats family, was finding it hard to find the words to express her emotions.

“The whole event was just beyond real,” she said. “Isn’t it wonderful? We can safely say, at this point, that we have passed the $40,000 mark, and that we will publish our final figures in the paper within a couple of weeks. From the smallest to the biggest donations, everything counted in the end. 

Isn’t it absolutely amazing what people can do when we all ‘pull together.’”

The goal of organizers was to raise funds to help the Froats family, Mark, Lisa, Brody and Brett, who are facing some very difficult challenges in the months  which lie ahead.

The Pulling Together campaign  began before Christmas, and culminated in a gala, Saturday,  April 6, 2013, at the Matilda Hall in Dixons Corners, with hundreds of people coming out from South Dundas and surrounding communities to take part in the  many activities.

The organizing team, made up of Myna Anderson, Mike Deighton, David Lapier, David Wells, Ruth and Paul Robertson, Keith and Linda Robinson, Gayle Hart, Loretta and Mike Anderson, Jim and Vivian Martin and Tracey Veinotte, was delighted with the support shown by volunteers and  the public for the fund raiser.

The Golden Gears Car Club ran a car rally on Saturday, and a sponsorship campaign: president Henry Swank presented a cheque for $4,600 to the committee. 

The Morrisburg and District Lions, and the Lions of Winchester, Chesterville and Finch handled activities throughout the day for the crowds of visitors. The Iroquois-Matilda Lions arranged for and looked after the hall.

The roast beef dinner (which completely sold out) was catered by Hart’s Special Occasions.

There were seven local bands performing throughout the afternoon and evening, with Elvis impersonator Paul Warren and his band, Mystery Train, entertaining after dinner. 

People danced the rest of the night away to the music of Ridin’ Shotgun.

A full list of those donating their time, talents, funds and fund raising efforts for the gala will be published later.

The silent and live auctions were popular and important factors in the fund raiser. 

Melissa Fisher, a flight attendant with West Jet, brought a special donation for the auction, from the airline, of two round trip tickets to wherever West Jet flies. “West Jet’s generosity is a major calling card for our event,” Myrna Anderson said. 

West Jet has a community investment program, Fisher explained, and if an event is trying to raise funds, it can submit a proposal to the West Jet board. The company was pleased to help support the Pulling Together campaign.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds said that the “volunteers who put on this fund raiser should be highly commended. There was great participation from our entire community to support a family facing real difficulties. There is such a strong sense of community in this area.”

The Froats family was thrilled and truly overwhelmed to hear how much had been raised at the event, Anderson reported. 

“Everything on Saturday went like clockwork,” she said. “We had no issues. We had great volunteers, and a wonderful crowd. It was a very happy day.”

[…]

 

These young men, members of the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Reserves, volunteered their own time to join an historic march recreating and commemorating the journey of the 104th (New Brunswick) Regiment of Foot in 1813. The Foot marched from Fredericton to Kingston to take part in the defense of Upper Canada along the St. Lawrence. “I want the Canadian army to rediscover its roots and to understand its heritage of service predates Confederation,” said historian Donald Graves, author of Merry Hearts Make Light Days, a journal of the War of 1812. “This march by the Foot during the war remains one of the longest in military history.” Following the day’s 30 kilometre march, the Glens, under the command of Lt.-Col Robert Duda, were received by the Legion, Branch # 48, on Sunday, April 7, then stayed overnight at Upper Canada Village.  At the Crysler Memorial, front row (l-r) are Sgt. Kyle Bergeron (with 104th’s replica colours), Pvt. Kyle Villeneuve, M.Cpl. Andrew Mustard, Pvt. Andrew Cameron,  and re-enactment organizer, Michael Berk. Back row M.Cpl. Justin Delorme, Cpl. Adam McKinnon, Cpl. Kory Kingston, Cpl. Joshua Taillon and Cpl. Evan Leslie. At Morrisburg Branch # 48, greeting the marchers, are, front, Graham Houze, president, Bill Shearing, Maurice Praine, past president, Donna Dillabough, 1st vice president and Michael Berk, Behind are Archie Mellan, South Dundas council, Lt. Colonel Duda and MPP Jim McDonell. “We have received tremendous support everywhere, throughout our march,” said Col. Duda, “And while we were once less friendly with the USA, the old animosities are over. The Americans are our friends, our allies, our comrades.” 

[…]

 

“We’re looking forward to this competition, and we’re going there to win.”

Seaway District High School’s building construction team is ready to take part in the 2013 Skills Canada Competition which is being held at St. Lawrence College, Cornwall, April 10. Made up of (above, left to right) Jordan St. Louis, Vicki Van Hoof, Josh O’Connor and Kris Alexander, the students in Seaway’s construction program know the competition will be tough, but they say they will be ready.

“The competitors come from all of the Upper Canada boards and from the Catholic boards. Our Seaway kids are really keen; they didn’t have to be pushed to take part in this event,” said Seaway teacher, Henry Looyen.

The Skills Canada Competition offers students the opportunity to  test their classroom and practical skills in a number of technical categories. “We are also sending students to carpentry trials, to welding, small engines and automotive trials,” Looyan said.

Seaway’s construction team will have six hours to completely build and finish a shed. 

The judges for the competition are drawn from the professors and teachers at the College, and from the apprenticeship programs. Judges will rate each team on the speed with which they work, the quality of the product, and whether teams meet code and spec standards.

The generosity of local South Dundas company, Cruickshank Construction, has been crucial to the young builders.

“Through Jordan, whose mom works for Cruickshank Construction, we asked for their support,” Looyen said. “The company immediately said yes, and donated $250 to us to purchase materials for building a practice shed this week in preparation for the contest. 

We are really grateful to Cruickshank’s for helping us out in this way.”

Seaway’s completed shed will be presented, after consultation with Cruickshank’s,  to a deserving member of the community in about a month’s time.

“We have a mixed grade level team here,” Henry Looyen explained. “The students come from grade 10 to the senior grades. All week in class we will be working on team skills, planning, and seeing that every person is doing a job. Time really is our ‘worst enemy.’”

Jordan, Vicki, Josh and Kris all volunteered for the competition and are looking forward to the challenges. They point out that while Mr. Looyen will be with them in Cornwall, he is forbidden by the contest rules to coach them in any way once the clock starts.

“This is going to be a team effort: we definitely plan to win. We’ll be fine,” the students laughed, looking at their teacher, “even if the shed goes up crooked.”

[…]

 

Every year at this time Curves offers up what Kelly Keeler, owner/manager of the Morrisburg location calls a win-win. 

New members can join for a $30 donation or a bag of groceries for the Dundas County Food Bank. 

The theme for this year’s food drive was feed the need. 

Curves gained several new members during the two-week promotion, and March 28 the money and grocery donations were handed over to the Dundas County Food Bank. 

“In addition to the new members, many of our other members, visitors, and staff donated too,” said Keeler. “People here are very supportive of this.” Monetary donations of $385 and 856.5 pounds of food were collected during this year’s effort. 

Rev. Sue McCollough, who accepted the donation on behalf of the food bank said that efforts like this mean everything to the food bank. “Without support from organizations like this one, our food bank would be in dire straits. It’s because of efforts like this that we can continue our programs to feed the hungry.” 

[…]

 

 

The St. Lawrence Parks Commission received $300,000 for four of its events as part of the April 5, Celebrate Ontario funding announcements.

Through the Celebrate Ontario initiative, the government is giving local events a boost to help grow tourism, create jobs and support economic growth.

This year, 203 festivals and events received funding. 

Festivals and events are proven visitor draws to both regions and tourism attractions.  

Over the past decade, the St. Lawrence Parks Commission has led the way in the development of three new shoulder season events that collectively have breathed new life into the tourism shoulder season plus numerous main season events that draw visitors to the region.  

Celebrate Ontario has announced it will fund event enhancements to four of the SLPC’s iconic events including:  Pumpkinferno and Alight at Night both at Upper Canada Village near Morrisburg and Fort Henry’s Concert Series and Fort Fright in Kingston.

“At the St. Lawrence Parks, as in any other business, product evolution and new product are at the core of sustainability.  As such, Celebrate Ontario’s investment in our new events contributes greatly to the longevity of our brand and the depth of our portfolio along the St.  Lawrence corridor and the Great Waterway region,” said Darren Dalgleish, General Manager & CEO, St. Lawrence Parks Commission.

The funding breaks down to $75,000 to each event and will be spent on innovations to help the events grow and remain appealing to visitors.

For Pumpkinferno, Celebrate Ontario will support the design, construction and presentation of an “experiential” exhibit as the must-see/do new feature in 2013, revitalization of the current displays, and improving accessibility along the tour, all towards renewing and  enhancing the customer experience.

As Alight at Night approaches its 13th season, Celebrate Ontario will support the research, design, installation and presentation of an all-new Special Effects Tour to entertain visitors during their rides on the Toy Train, in order to rejuvenate this long-standing family activity at the event. 

[…]

 

The new roadside sign design has been scrapped by South Dundas council. Council narrowly defeated a motion at the April 2, council meeting that would have allowed South Dundas’ roadside signs to be replaced with new redesigned signs.

South Dundas, in partnership with South Stormont, commissioned a $10,000 study to redesign the signs to include the shared Upper Canada Region branding and to have a uniform appearance across the region.

South Stormont council approved the new design at their March 11 meeting.

The new sign design removes the images that were featured on past designs, including the McIntosh apple from hamlet signs throughout South Dundas and the ship that is featured on the 401 exit signs at Morrisburg and Iroquois.

“There are no images in order to ensure that the name (South Dundas) is relayed effectively without any clutter,” said South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan. 

“What we wanted is for our signs to be timeless. Images and pictures tend to fade and soon become outdated. That’s why we went with only text.”

“If you have graphics, you have to pick one, and then you have effectively pigeon-holed your community,” said Sullivan.

The recommendation to change the names on the 401 signs to South Dundas from Iroquois and Morrisburg was done to align South Dundas’ greater marketing efforts. 

“If we want name recognition, it needs to be consistent,” said Sullivan. “We’re marketing the whole South Dundas community, not just Iroquois and Morrisburg.”

The majority of council was not swayed by Sullivan’s arguments. 

Council members had various ideas about what should be on the signs such as images and logos, but the majority agreed that they did not like the roadside sign design they were presented at the March 5 council meeting by consultant Tom Graham of T.D. Graham and Associates. 

Councillor Archie Mellan said that an image, like the McIntosh apple, serves a purpose. “It grabs your attention.” 

Councillor Evonne Delegarde agreed. “We might be missing the boat if we eliminate graphics from our signs,” she said, adding that she has had no positive feedback on the new design. 

“I don’t like the new design,” said South Dundas councillor Jim Graham. 

“To me the design is plain and institutional. I like the signs we have with the apple and the boat.” He added that he has been asking people about the new sign design and that he has not had anyone say they like it.

“People don’t like change,” said South Dundas deputy mayor Jim Locke. 

He was satisfied with the sign design suggested by the consultants, who were able to explain the reasoning behind the choice of this new design. 

“We partnered with another municipality to do this, and here we are not happy,” said Locke.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds was swayed by the consultant’s arguments in favour of the new design, especially of using the medium to promote the Upper Canada Region brand.

“This branding has been on the shelf too long not to give it a try,” said Byvelds.

“The signs on the 401: I am of the firm belief that it is time to make them South Dundas signs,” said Mayor Byvelds. 

“We are South Dundas council and we need to stick together and emphasize that point. We have to start thinking of South Dundas as one, and it needs to start at this table. It is not just Iroquois and Morrisburg and the rest. Yes, the new sign design is very plain but the apple and the ship are not unity. That’s just more division. South Dundas is unity.”

“This is our opportunity to go forward with the Upper Canada Region brand, to promote South Dundas and to work with South Stormont,” he added. 

“I have no problem with using the South Dundas name and the Upper Canada Region. I fully support the branding,” said Councillor Graham. “I am not happy with the design that was presented, and I don’t have to accept it.”

“What do we do, scrap it?,” asked Deputy Mayor Locke.

The apparent answer to his question was yes as council voted to defeat the motion to accept the new sign design.

“I am not sure of our path forward from here,” said Mayor Byvelds. “Now we have no signs, and no budget to pay for a redesign.” 

[…]

 

“We are asking you to please work in our favour,” said Pamela Rodrigue, who made a plea to South Dundas council at the April 2, regular council meeting.

She spoke on behalf of the group who is fighting to keep the Williamsburg branch of the Stormont, Dundas and County Library open. 

The SD&G Library Board decided late last year that the branch will be closed and consolidated with the Morrisburg branch. 

Unless the library board reverses the decision, the consolidated branch will be at the new Morrisburg location, in renovated space that will be vacated by the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic as part of the Morrisburg Collegiate Institute redevelopment. 

According to South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds, that decision was solely the decision of the SD&G County Library Board. 

Byvelds told Rodrigue and the 40 library supporters who packed council chambers, that the library board has never been told by South Dundas that the library has to vacate the building in Williamsburg.

South Dundas Deputy Mayor Jim Locke, who is a member of the library board, said, “If this council supports promoting the library in Williamsburg, I will support that in my position on the library board.”

This offer of support, along with information about a potential tenant for the South Dundas municipal building in Williamsburg, has given Williamsburg library supporters a little hope about the future of the library.

Rodrigue stated at the council meeting that the TR Leger School is in the process of leasing the building in Williamsburg and that they are willing to consider leasing space to the library. “What a wonderful partnership this would be,” she commented.

“This would be a good opportunity to offer a library,” said Byvelds, adding that he is hopeful the possibility of that partnership pans out. “That would be a positive economic drive for Williamsburg.” 

According to Byvelds, township staff and TR Leger staff have been meeting regarding the Williamsburg building. Council is aware of the negotiations, however, that information was discussed in closed session.

Byvelds said the township will work with TR Leger, but if the library doesn’t work for that arrangement, there are alternative sites where some level of service could be offered.

[…]