News

 

 If a great meal, outstanding entertainment and approximately $4,000 raised for the Canadian Glaucoma Foundation equal a successful anniversary celebration, then the Iroquois-Matilda Lions outdid themselves. 

The club celebrated its 65th anniversary at the Matilda Hall on Saturday, October 27. It was quite a party.

Over 250 Iroquois Lions, members of the community and Lions from Morrisburg and other  clubs, attended the gala reception. The 2012-13 president of the Iroquois-Matilda Lions, Steve Wilson, acted as emcee.

“We thank you very much for coming out to celebrate with us tonight,” Wilson said. “I must tell you that this was a wonderful year to be president of this club. We had three goals for this evening. First, we wanted to celebrate the 65 years the Lions have served this community. The second goal was to offer our guests a delicious meal and some outstanding entertainment. And our third goal was to raise funds for the Glaucoma Foundation.” 

The silent auction brought in approximately $4,000 for Glaucoma research, according to Lion Paul Robertson (with Jim Mustard and Steve Wilson, a gala organizer). “We are very pleased with the generosity of people. We offer many thanks to those who donated to our cause, and to those who supported us by bidding.”

Greetings and honours were presented to the club following the dinner. 

MP Guy Lauzon will be delivering a formal plaque from the federal government to the Iroquois-Matilda Lions later this week. “Our government appreciates all that you Lions do in your communities. This is a remarkable achievement: without our Lions, what kind of community would we have?”

Jim Locke set aside his Lions’ colours and donned his deputy mayor’s hat to bring the congratulations and best wishes of mayor Steven Byvelds and the South Dundas council to the club.

Special guest at the gala was John Chilvers, Lions International District A-4 governor.

District A-4 is made up of 68 Lions clubs, with 1,710 active members. The Iroquois-Matilda Lions are part of A-4.

“I feel that it is a real privilege to be here tonight to celebrate with a club that is hitting such a milestone,” Chilvers said. “I want to emphasize that Lions do a lot in the world. There are currently 1.35 million Lions in 208 countries. You Lions support your local communities, but you also support the greater world.”

The governor brought a special commemorative plaque to the club as part of the celebration.

Bowser and Blue, who provided the entertainment for the gala evening, quite literally brought the house down. 

Rick Blue and George Bowser are a stellar Canadian musical and comedy act. Their witty on-stage patter, and the clever lyrics to their songs kept guests entertained and roaring with laughter. 

“We shall now sing a song in the Canadian key.

The Canadian key?

Yes. The key of ‘eh’!”

From the classic Colorectal Surgeons Song, to We’re All Canadians (“We’re all here/’cause we’re not all there!”), Bowser and Blue were outstanding showmen.

For many, though, the musical highlight of the evening may have been Bald is Beautiful, which the duo sang to Lions Phil Parry and Glenn Swerdfeger to thunderous laughter and applause. 

The Iroquois-Matilda Lions have had a great 65 years. They plan to continue to be of service to this community as they enter their next decade.

[…]

 

This Saturday the fourth annual Telethon for Hospice will take place in Cornwall and be broadcast into homes of Cornwall area residents through TV Cogeco, but this year,  for the first time ever there will be a local option to facilitate supporting this worthy cause.

A remote location for the live broadcast will be set up at the Basket Case Café in Morrisburg, November 3, noon until 5 p.m., where people are welcome to drop by and make a donation. While the live telethon is being broadcast to a television at the Basket Case, the owners are offering soup and dessert for a donation to Carefor Cornwall Hospice. Volunteers from the neighbouring Scotiabank branch will be serving lunch at the Basket Case or answering telephones in Cornwall. Scotiabank’s participation means matching funds of $5,000 will be contributed to Carefore Hospice Cornwall.

Sandy Collette, fund raising coordinator for Carefor Hospice explained that since more of their patients, recently, have come from Dundas County, especially South Dundas than any of the other areas, they had wanted to bring their fund raising efforts here. 

Since, TV Cogeco is not available to residents of South Dundas, although locals have used the hospice, they have never been able to participate in the telethon, which is a major fund raiser for the hospice.

Carefor Hospice Cornwall provides compassionate, end of life care for individuals who prefer not to be in hospital and can no longer stay at home. 

The hospice is a home when home is no longer possible or practical, making the last days of a person’s life together with their family peaceful, comfortable and meaningful.

This hospice is the only residential hospice south of Ottawa in Eastern Ontario. 

In the three years since the hospice facility opened in Cornwall, 450 patients have been cared for.

Carefor Hospice does receive some government funding, but $500,000 over and above that funding must be raised through fund raisers like the upcoming telethon on an annual basis to keep the facility operating. 

Last year the fund raising goal for the telethon was $75,000, but they surpassed that goal and raised $94,000. This year the goal is to raise $80,000 through the expanded telethon.

Pauline Harper, spent time at Carefor Hospice in Cornwall when her husband passed away.

Harper has nothing but praise for the facility. 

“The nursing staff was wonderful. I think God sent each one of them from heaven,” said Harper. “The families are cared for there too. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

To thank the staff and volunteers of the hospice, Harper has been working hard to raise funds for Hospice and before the weekend had already collected over $2,000 in pledges.

Jennine McCourt, whose daughter Kathleen McCourt passed away at Carefor Hospice in Cornwall encourages anyone who can support this great facility to do so, as they provide an excellent service.

“They really listened and provided very individualized and personalized care,” she said. The home-like setting of the hospice gave Kathleen something that no one else could. 

“She wanted to go home,” said Jennine. “When we went there, she said, ‘this is just like home’. They provided the perfect setting for her to say goodbye.”

The Telethon for Hospice on TVCogeco is live from noon to 6 p.m. November 3. Donations can be made during the telethon by calling 613-543-3982.

[…]

 

While the Carefor Cornwall Hospice is gearing up for their annual fund raising telethon through which they hope to raise $80,000, there is another way that the community can help them double that amount. 

Cornwall Hospice, is a 10 bed residential facility that provides free end of life care for those who prefer not to stay in hospital or can no longer stay at home.

The services of the hospice have been used by many local residents, yet many are unaware of the facility and the service it offers.

Rhonda VanBeilen, a broker at Brister Insurance in Morrisburg had been unaware of the Cornwall Hospice until she learned about it from her brother David Lapier.

Once she learned about the facility she did something that could help Cornwall Hospice in a big way.

She nominated Cornwall Hospice for the national Aviva Community Fund contest which gives away $1 million to various organizations across the county.

For this nomination to become funds for Hospice, community support is needed.

VanBeilen explained that all you have to do is register at avivacommunityfund.org and then you are eligible to vote for this medium project once per day per email account. 

“You only have to register once, so it’s easy,” said VanBeilen.

The top 30 projects according to number of votes will move on to the contest semi finals. 

Last week the Carefor Hospice nomination was among the top 30, and VanBeilen hopes that they will be able to maintain that good standing to move on to the semifinals.

Carefor Cornwall Hospice is partially funded by the government, but $500,000 in fund raising over and above that funding is needed to keep it operational.

[…]

 

Saturday, the Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area hiking trail in South Dundas will be named in honour of its champion, Don Graham.

The Township of South Dundas, South Nation Conservation, and other supporters will hold a dedication ceremony this Saturday, November 3, 2012 to name the Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area hiking trail as the “Don Graham Trail,” in honor of long time resident and volunteer Don Graham.

The dedication is planned Saturday November 3, at 11 a.m. at the trail head of Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area, on County Road 2, between Morrisburg and Iroquois, near the west end of Lakeshore Drive.

South Dundas and South Nation Conservation will host a nature outing following the ceremony at noon, which will include a hike along the trail.

Local officials decided to name the trail after Graham because of his work in creating it. 

“Don has worked tirelessly to promote a natural trail system for our area,” said South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds. 

“The Don Graham Trail will honour his desire to ensure that the residents of South Dundas have such a trail for our enjoyment.”

Don Graham, a professional Landscape Architect, Harvard trained, has been offering his time, imagination and expertise towards development in this area for well over 30 years.

South Nation Conservation owns and maintains the Two Creeks Forest Conservation Area, which has trails as well as other amenities.

“We are so proud and pleased to partner with South Dundas to honor Don Graham in this way,” said Angela Coleman, Director of Marketing and Communications with South Nation Conservation. 

“He is held in such high regard by his peers and staff – we are so fortunate to have worked with him on the Two Creeks Forest Project.”

[…]

 

The Ontario government announced, October 9,  that it will be easier than ever to get a free flu shot close to home, and that will definitely be the case here.

Anyone who missed the lone flu shot clinic hosted by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit within South Dundas, can simply visit a local pharmacy.

Among the participating pharmacies who are trained and ready to give flu shots to Ontarians, age five and older, is Morrisburg’s Seaway Valley Pharmacy.

Owner, Scott Lane is trained and ready to administer the dose. 

“We’re ready, we’re just waiting for the vaccines to arrive from the government,” said Lane last Thursday.

Once those arrive, Lane will announce the clinic dates when he will be administering the free flu shots.

Upper Canada Remedy’s Rx, which is also located in Morrisburg will not be offering the flu shots this year.

“This year we are not offering it. Most likely next year,” said pharmacist Solymar Galindo. “The training is still needed.”

Gilmer’s Pharmacy in Iroquois is not planning to offer the service, according to Doug Gilmer.

The flu vaccine is publicly funded as it aims to keep Ontario residents healthy. 

The flu vaccine is safe and effective, and getting it early helps you and the people around you stay healthy.

The flu can lead to serious health problems. Those most at risk are the elderly, young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

Free flu shots are also available through family doctors.

[…]

 

South Dundas township and the Upper Canada District School Board have come to an agreement to build a new sidewalk that will make for a safer trip to school for students who walk to Morrisburg Public School.

South Dundas chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald confirmed that the new sidewalk will be located on township property along the fence on the north boundary of the old high school property.

What that means is that the Ottawa Street crosswalk will go back to its original location near Alice Street, rather than its more controversial present location at Second Street.

The partnership between the municipality and the board will see the board paying a substantial amount of the $12,000 sidewalk project cost and the municipality taking on the maintenance costs.

“This is a priority project, and it will be done ASAP,” said McDonald.

[…]

 

Saturday, (October 27) representatives of the Branch 48 Royal Canadian Legion in Morrisburg and the local Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Unit Sicily (C.A.V. Sicily) got together to complete their mission in support of Operation Leave the Streets Behind for the Homeless Veterans Assistance Fund. 

In July, C.A.V. Sicily ran its first major fund raiser, since its inception in the summer of 2011, the SD&G Highlanders Highway 43 Memorial Ride which started in Perth and ended up at the home base in Morrisburg. 

The ride, which the C.A.V. had hoped would raise between $1,500 and $2,000, did just that and then some when Morrisburg Legion Branch 48 topped it up with a $2,000 donation for a total of $4,669.69 for the Operation Leave the Streets Behind campaign. 

C.A.V. president Bill “Justus” Aitken was absolutely delighted. He credited the 52 bikers who participated in the July 8 run and the community (businesses and individuals) from Perth to Morrisburg that supported it. 

“The Morrisburg Legion really went above and beyond,” he said. “They donated $2,000 on behalf of us in addition to helping us to facilitate the ride.” 

C.A.V. Sicily, named for the 1943 Battle of Sicily when the Allies launched one of the largest combined operations of WWII for control of Sicily, was formed last summer with seven members. The unit has now grown to 17 members which is a mix of 11 Veterans and six supporters, most of whom ride motorcycles. 

C.A.V. Sicily members have become familiar to the community thanks to their participation in various events. This past Saturday they were out and about as they joined the Williamsburg Scout groups, for the launch of this year’s Poppy Campaign. 

[…]

 

 It took steady hands and an eye for design, but the students in 7.1 and 7.2 at Seaway District High School proved they were up to the challenge of creating their own pumpkin extravaganza. 

Grade seven teacher, Andrew Carson, with the assistance of teachers Mr. Benton and Mme. Driscoll, and LRC teacher Mrs. Fowler, took the 43 students to the art room for some serious pumpkin work on Monday, October 29. 

“We had been preparing for today for about a week,” Carson said. “The students had to choose the individual stencils to create their designs. And of course, they had to clean out the pumpkins themselves. That’s been a little messy, but they are enjoying themselves.”

Choices of pumpkin stencils ranged from bats and ghosts to were-wolves and aliens. 

All the carvers were hard at work when the Leader arrived.

“The students have been really excited about this. Some of them have never used stencils before. Others have never actually carved a pumpkin. So they were ready to dive in this morning: it’s really a new and fun experience for most of them.”

Smyth’s Apple Orchard provided the 45 pumpkins needed for the classes.

“Those pumpkins were a very generous donation by Smyth’s Apple Orchard,” Carson said, “especially since this is their busy season. We are really grateful.”

Tuesday, October 30, all the pumpkins went to the Seaway gym for the grand lighting ceremony, “sort of our own Pumpkin Inferno,” Carson laughed. At the end of the day, each student took home the pumpkin he or she had created.

And nothing was wasted.

All the pumpkin seeds from the activity were collected and taken to the Developmental Room kitchen where they are going to be baked.

“We’ll be eating them as treats at the Hallowe’en dance this Wednesday,” Carson said. 

[…]

 

Although the full contract is not yet in place, South Dundas council has signed a letter of intent with R.J. Bourgon to allow work to start on the renovation of the former Morrisburg Collegiate Institute. 

The letter, approved by council at the Oct. 16 meeting, allows the contractor to start to mobilize on site, get their bonding in place and start the abatement process for the removal of the asbestos.

Council expects to have the contract ready for their approval at the next council meeting.

There have been a few changes to the scope of the $4 million project that are expected to result in some cost savings. They are now spelled out in an addendum being reviewed by the contractor. The addendum better defines the scope of the work to allow the contractor to better pinpoint the project cost and take into account any potential savings.

[…]

 

Cruickshank is proud to named one of the 50 Best Employers in Canada, ranking 38th, based on a study conducted by Aon Hewitt, a global human resources consulting and outsourcing solutions organization. The competitive study, now in its 14th year, measures employee engagement through employee surveys and attracted over 150 submissions from organizations across the country.

“I’m thrilled and proud of our employees, who are the reason we’ve been honoured with this recognition, says company CEO Steve Cruickshank. “Their dedication and drive are vital to our success, and they make our company a wonderful place to work.”

The Best Employers in Canada study recognizes companies who demonstrate their commitment to employees through a number of factors, including company environment, leadership qualities and opportunities for growth. Results of the survey are provided to each organization to help them continue to improve programs, recruit leaders and grow the company.

Steve Cruickshank notes that the Best Employers in Canada program offers an excellent opportunity to better understand what employees need to thrive. “Our success lies in our commitment to a safe, healthy work environment that allows our team to fully demonstrate their expertise,” he says. “The Best Employers program is a critical tool that helps us continue to develop that environment for mutual benefit and success.”

Founded in 1956, Cruickshank is a leading road, bridge and infrastructure construction services firm. The company, which operates in both Canada and the U.S., has significant experience in both the private and public sectors, and has developed a strong reputation for getting the job done right – every time.

Along with being ranked as one the Best Employers in Canada, Cruickshank is a 2011 winner of Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies program, a national award that recognizes Canadian companies that have implemented world-class business practices and created value in innovative ways. Cruickshank has also been ranked on the top 50 Best Small and Medium Employers for the past three years and was named one of Canada’s Green 30 employers by Maclean’s magazine in 2011 and 2012.

[…]