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Maddie is a 5 year old Chocolate Lab. She has been spayed and is everybody’s dream dog. She loves to cuddle and in fact just totally loves people. A mature, quiet dog, she would easily fit into absolutely any family setting. (pictured top)

 

Bella is a well-behaved Black Lab/Rottie mix. She is three years old and presumed to have been spayed. She too is a mature, calm dog, probably best suited to a family with no children or other pets.

 

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Last brought to South Dundas in 2008, the important and well received MasoniCh.I.P Child ID Program is being brought back to the area this year.

MasoniCh.I.P is a program whereby the local Masonic Lodge, free of charge, welcomes families to have information about their children gathered that will be invaluable should the child ever go missing.

“It is our sincerest hope that no family will need the resource provided in our packets, but if the need should arise, the information on the CD, that you are provided through our program, will be instrumental to law enforcement agencies in the recovery of a missing child. 

It only takes 42 seconds from the time the CD-Rom is loaded into the police computer for the Amber Alert broadcast to be sent throughout North America,” reads a press release from the Masons.

Don Salt, a member of the local MasoniCH.I.P clinic organizing committee, with the Iroquois-Cardinal Masons, Friendly Brothers Masonic Lodge #143, said that the first in a series of clinics that will be held throughout the year will take place April 19 and 20. 

They will have the clinic set up in a booth at the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce Home and Trade Show at the Morrisburg Arena.

In 2008, about 300 children participated in the local clinics and the Masons are hoping that they will be as well received this time around. 

“The children who were done at the last clinics, should be re-done,” said Salt, as they have certainly changed in five years. 

While some of the information stays the same, such as DNA and fingerprints, updating information such as height, weight and photos is very important.

Salt, who is a retired law enforcement officer, stresses the importance of this information and says that parents should try and get their teenage girls to participate in the  program. 

“To put it bluntly, they are the group at the highest risk,” says Salt.

Salt hopes that parents of all children, no matter the age, will seriously consider bringing them to the clinic at the trade show this weekend.

The MasoniCh.I.P. Child ID Program consists of five major components – vital child information, digital fingerprints, digital photographs, a digital video and swab for DNA.

All of this data is burned on to a CD, and given to the parents or guardian. 

Security and privacy are of the utmost importance; therefore, it is significant to note that the Ontario Masons keep nothing on file, with the exception of the permission form signed by the parent, prior to participation in any event. 

It costs the Masons about $3 per child to gather the information for parents, a cost which the local Masons Lodge gladly covers.

“If it helps find one child, it is more than worth it,” said Salt. 

The organizing committee plans to set up a couple of other clinics locally later this year; one at the South Dundas Soccer Tournament in Iroquois and one at Williamsburg Harvestfest.

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“This year’s trade show should be a great one,” said Joey van Koppen, chair of the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce Trade Show organizing committee.

The annual event is set to take place April 19 and 20, at the Morrisburg Arena. 

“I’m really hyped about this year’s event. We’ve been using all different kinds of media to get the word out,” said van Koppen, who is expecting a large crowd.

“We are in a sold out position, as far as vendors go,” said Geraldine Fitzsimmons, office manager with the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce. “We will have well over 70 vendors on site.”

“We have a great line up of events too,” said van Koppen. “I just wish we had more room.”

This year is about the third consecutive year that the trade show has sold out its vendor booths, filling the Morrisburg arena venue.

“We’ve been working really hard to keep our successes rolling,” said van Koppen, of the organizing committee.

“Not only do we have something for everyone, but this year we are introducing one of our most exciting events ever – Ask the Experts,” said van Koppen.

A line up of experts will be available at the trade show to spend time answering questions from anyone. 

“Whether you are interested in natural medicinal remedies, renovating your home or organizing your garden, all you have to do is drop by and ‘ask the experts,’” said van Koppen.

Exhibitors are ready to promote their products, and many will be selling goods on site.

“A lot of the vendors from last year’s show told us they got  a lot of good leads and business from the trade show last year, so they are really excited to be back this year,” said Fitzsimmons.

“We are also excited to be welcoming some new vendors this year too,” she added.

The Morrisburg and District Lions Club will be selling food at the trade show. They plan to offer a chicken barbecue and a pancake breakfast, which is new this year.

South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services will do an extrication demonstration on site, Saturday, at 10:30 a.m. A Sears fashion show will be presented by the Iroquois Sears store, Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.

The lineup of experts will be posted at the trade show.

Throughout the weekend event, the Iroquois-Cardinal Masons will set up a Masonichip, child identification clinic, to gather vital information for parents should it be needed in case of emergency. (See related story; page 2)

The trade show kicks off the evening of April 19. 

Opening ceremonies will take place at 6 p.m. Two grade 7/8 students from Timothy Christian School in Williamsburg will be singing O Canada.

Adults who attend the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce Home and Trade Show are welcome to enter a free draw at a chance to win one of the ten, $100 prizes. “This is a great draw,” said Fitzsimmons, “Not only does someone get the joy of winning the prize, the prize is $100 to spend at the business of one of our trade show vendors, so the vendors win too.”

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Turning the beach into the true focal point of the Iroquois waterfront is the main attraction of the Iroquois waterfront plan, which was presented to the community Monday, April 15, at the Iroquois Civic Centre.

A crowd of about 60 people gathered to view the effort of the The Iroquois Waterfront Committee, which  spent two years researching and consulting the public to define a vision of the Iroquois waterfront reflective of the community’s wants and needs. 

Judging from the reaction of those on hand, their diligence paid off, as they were able to deliver a plan that brought only positive response from the audience.

The committee based the plan presented directly on the results of a survey distributed to Iroquois residents. 

That survey showed that residents strongly supported enlarging the beach and strongly supported the waterfront being used for recreational purposes. It also showed strong opposition to any, even limited, residential use of waterfront lands.

“The response was gratifying,” said Howard Kirkby, committee chair. 

“This plan is reflective of the community’s wishes.”

The response rate to the surveys was about 10 to 12 per cent, according to committee member Jim Wilson, saying that was a very good response rate.

The vision presented, with the help of landscape architect Wendy Graham, suggests finding a way to pay homage to the few remaining historical markers from pre-Seaway days, but the thrust of the plan is focussed on two things: the recreational pathway system and the beach.

The plans propose making the sand area of the beach much larger and suggest moving the parking lot further away from the sand area to allow for more recreational opportunity. 

Graham suggested that the pathway system, rather than ending in the beach parking lot, should pass between the beach and the parking lot, and travel onward, potentially linking to the regional trail system which already exists, but currently passes through Iroquois along County Road 2. 

The plan also suggests completing the pathway system and filling in any existing missing links, to make it more attractive, accessible and user friendly. 

Another suggestion in the plan is to move the tourist information booth location more towards the waterfront, away from the plaza.

They have suggested the Forward House, which is ideally located on the way to the Seaway locks, the town’s main tourist attraction, and at the edge of the waterfront park, become the new tourist information centre.

“We understand that we have to do this one step at a time, but we have to take control. We can’t wait. There are many ways to make our waterfront more significant and the more people who see what we have, the more clout we will have to get things done,” said Kirkby.

“We want to take back our waterfront from history. We want it to be vital. We want to make Iroquois whole again,” said Wilson.

When it was pointed out that there was a generation missing from the audience, namely parents with young children, who will most likely see the benefit of the proposed improvements, the committee agreed that there is a need to find a way to tap into that generation and get them involved.

“Yes, we should focus on getting parents with young kids involved, and to tell them that we need their input and to get them contributing,” said Kirkby. 

 “Young families in Morrisburg saw a need and they went out and did something about it. We need more involvement from everyone. The only way to make improvements is to get involved.”

Wilson pointed out that this community supports a huge soccer program and that is proof that there is no lack of interest in recreation in this community. 

“We need to tap into that. Making our beach a recreational gem has the potential to do that,” he said. “This committee intends to continue. This isn’t the end. We have defined a vision, and now this is the beginning. It is a vision that we want to see realized and it is our responsibility to try and realize it with the help of the community and political leaders of all levels.

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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.

[…]

 

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.” 

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“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.

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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.”

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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.” 

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“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.”

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