News

A snapshot of tourists in South Dundas: Generally, they tend to be adults, they come from within a 100 kilometer radius, are either here on a day trip or here visiting family and friends. While here, they want to enjoy the outdoors, cycle along the waterfront trail, visit Upper Canada Village, or maybe see the ships passing through the Iroquois Locks. While enjoying these activities they want to enjoy a fairly unplanned but truly authentic experience.

Having done all the research to create this snapshot of tourists in South Dundas, a project team of 10 people recruited from stakeholders in the local tourism industry, with South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan, have come up with at strategy which identifies what they believe the priority areas should be to successfully grow South Dundas’ tourism sector. 

“This is our stab at it,” says Sullivan. “What we need now is for the community to come and check out our strategy to help us determine if our priorities match the community’s.”

The team believes that the historical sector should be a top priority, followed by the arts and culture sector, the cycling sector, motorcycling sector and the fishing and boating sector.

“The historical sector is fascinating, as it can be used to enhance everything else, by adding to the visitor’s experience,” said Sullivan, who sees the historical sector as a natural top priority for South Dundas.

Using this list of priorities, the team is working on a draft Tourism Sector Development Action Plan and are wanting community input to ensure that they are working in a direction that suits the community’s needs.

Sullivan, along with members of the project team, will be hosting an event, called Our Passport to the Future: A Tourism Stakeholder Discussion Forum, November 29, from 5-8 p.m. at the McIntosh Inn, Morrisburg. 

“This is not your traditional type of public meeting,” said Sullivan explaining that it’s more of an open house forum whereby people are welcome to drop in at their convenience to see the plans and provide their feedback. 

The meeting will be set up in four stations with a facilitator at each station to listen and discuss with those attending.

“I really want it to be a relaxed atmosphere that will allow for discussions,” said Sullivan. “What we really need is feedback and comments about the priorities and a general feeling about whether our perspective matches that of the community.”

[…]

Nine months into a fund raising campaign to pay for a new MRI that will be located at the redeveloped Cornwall Community Hospital, campaign officials have asked South Dundas to contribute to the cause.

Roy Perkins, campaign co-chair for the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation initiative, made the funding request to South Dundas council at the November 6 meeting.

The request was simply for financial support, with no dollar figure attached or suggested. Similar requests have been made to every council in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and Akwesasne, United Counties council and will be made to the City of Cornwall.

The ‘To Your Health!’ Campaign aims to raise $3.5 million by the end of the year to fund the MRI and a digital urology table for the Digital Centre of Excellence that will bring these diagnostic tools closer to the residents of this region. Presently, those needing the use of such diagnostic tools are travelling at least an hour to Ottawa or Kingston for the services.

Cornwall is the only approved site for an MRI in this region.

According to Perkins, $2.5 million of the $3.5 million campaign goal has been raised. He reported that the councils they have visited have expressed their in principle support to provide funds to the campaign, but most are deferring their final decisions until budget time.

Erin Killoran, campaign manager, explained the many benefits of having an MRI in a small community hospital in Cornwall, including easing the burden on the health care system that presently has long wait times for MRI. Quicker access to such diagnostic equipment allows for early diagnoses, faster treatments, all the while being much less invasive than traditional methods of diagnosis.

MRI and the digital urology table, like the addition of any new equipment, has the added potential benefit of enticing new medical professionals to the region.

Once it is up and running early next year, the MRI will operate five days a week, eight hours a day. That means about 3,000 tests per year will take place at the site, which accounts for the number of patients in the region who are being sent to Ottawa or Kingston.

South Dundas council was generally supportive of providing some funding to the campaign, however they would like to see what the Counties and other communities pledge. They also want to wait to discuss the amount in the context of budget discussions.

“It kills me that hospitals have to keep coming to the community,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan who suggested that if the people of South Dundas think it’s a worthy cause that they should donate themselves.

However, the nature of provincial funding only provides funds for buildings, leaving communities to fund raise for the equipment that goes into those hospitals.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds said that he has personally supported this campaign and that council will consider providing some funds, an amount to be determined, closer to budget time. 

Counties contribute $500,000

CORNWALL – The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry will be contributing $500,000 on behalf of the taxpayers of SD&G to the “To Your Health!” campaign to raise funds to pay for an MRI and digital urology table that will be located at the new Cornwall Community Hospital.

“It is certainly something that is needed in this area,” said South Dundas mayor and counties councillor Steven Byvelds who seconded the motion tabled by North Stormont mayor Dennis Fife at the counties council meeting on Monday. The $500,000 will be allocated over two years.

[…]

The response to the Trade Roots event held here Wednesday, was unreal, according to event coordinator Elaine DeKroon.

DeKroon has been part of events all over and said, “I have never seen as much support for an event as we have had today.” 

The career event gave high school students, and members of the public, the opportunity to see skilled trades in action and gather information from skilled tradespeople and educators about career opportunities.

“A lot of the interest in this (Morrisburg) event is because of this facility,” said DeKroon of the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario which offers heavy equipment training.

“It is a really good fit for us to have our event here. People really want to see what this place is about.”

Twelve high schools from Prescott to Cornwall to Ottawa, including Seaway, North Dundas and Rothwell-Osnabruck, were bussed into the event that was also open to the pubic.

They were treated to 46 exhibits showcasing various trades.

“It is great when we have the trades programs from the colleges participate,” said DeKroon.

St. Lawrence College had a strong presence with culinary arts students providing samples of their work and hairstyling students demonstrating their skills on willing volunteers.

Other, more obscure programs, such as the control engineering technology program, also had exhibits to show students what they do and how their efforts are put to use in various industrial applications.

This is the third year that Trade Roots has taken place in Morrisburg. The Morrisburg event was hosted by St. Lawrence College and is funded by Service Canada, in part by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. The final opportunity to attend a Trade Roots event will take place in March 2013, when they will be in Kemptville.

[…]

A recently announced $11 million increase in provincial government funding supporting community-based services in the Champlain Local Health Integration Network is designed to give area residents more options for home and community care.

Among the health care providers who will increase their services due to the extra funding is Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

That organization will share in a $1 million increase in funding for personal support and respite programs that offer assistance to clients living alone, and caregivers in need of respite. Services include grooming, dressing, bathing, transferring, bed care and medication compliance. 

These services are aimed at lower-risk seniors who do not qualify for Community Care Access Services, and is more of a service aimed at preventing problems.

“What this means is that Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing will be providing more hours of service and seeing more people,” said Janet Levere, executive director of WNPHC. “These are important services to the many seniors who are staying in their homes longer.”

WNPHC was also named as a service provider agency that will share in a $400,000 annual funding increase to the Assisted Living Services program which provides health services at home for high-risk seniors needing personal support services including hygiene, assisting with medication and homemaking, 24/7 monitoring and care coordination.

The bulk of the increased funding, just over $7 million, will benefit the Champlain Community Care Access Centre in delivering services through a variety of programs across the region, with the aim of supporting seniors' transition from hospital to home. These services assist clients with moderate to high needs either to avoid unnecessary hospitalization, or once in hospital, to go home sooner with appropriate supports in place.

According to the LHIN news release, 90,000 more seniors across the province will receive care at home thanks to the addition of three million personal support worker hours over the next three years.

“The Champlain LHIN is making important, strategic investments that will help transform the health system by expanding services in community settings,” said Chantale LeClerc, Champlain LHIN CEO. “In particular, seniors and people with mental health conditions and addictions will benefit from the new programs, which aim to improve quality of life, prevent avoidable emergency room visits, and keep folks healthy at home.”

[…]

Students at Timothy Christian School (TCS) celebrated the 50th day of their school’s 50th year on Wednesday, November 14 with a fun day of dressing up, decorations, cupcakes and more.

Many Grade 1 students in schools across the country mark the 100th day of school with special activities where they have an opportunity to count to 100. 

In honour of Timothy Christian’s 50th school year, all students from junior kindergarten to Grade 8 were involved in 50 day. 

Each class worked together to make a display or structure using 50 pieces of a school supply/item. 

Creative ideas included 50 magnets to spell TCS, 50 blocks lined up like dominoes, 50 pencils in the shape of the number 50 and 50 pieces of chalk to make a building using clay as the vertices.

Students also dressed up to showcase the number 50. 

They wore 50 bracelets, put 50 hair ties in their hair, put 50 post-it notes or stickers on their shirts and painted the number 50 on their faces. 

For 50 cents they could purchase a cupcake at recess with the money raised to be used to buy school supplies in a developing country. 

In the morning, at a short chapel (assembly), the students shared their top 50 reasons why they love Timothy Christian School. Reasons ranged from “we have great teachers” and “we can learn about God every day” to “fun intramural programs” and a “new play structure to play on”.

“Fifth day is just one of the activities planned to celebrate our school’s 50th anniversary year,” says Gary Postma, principal of Timothy Christian School. “TCS began offering Christ-centred education to area students in 1963. Now we’re teaching the third generation of students and it’s an exciting time in our school’s history.” 

More can be learned about Timothy Christian School visit at the school’s website at www.tcswilliamsburg.ca or by visiting on a Welcome Wednesday. 

There is no appointment necessary to meet the staff, see the facility and learn more about how faith is incorporated into everyday learning. 

[…]

Almost 700 people attended the annual Morrisburg and District Arts and Crafts Association show and sale at the Morrisburg Legion over the weekend, a number that pleased the exhibitors and the association alike.

Linda Schenck, the association’s chairperson explained that this was the first year that she kept track of attendance, but said the crowd definitely seemed bigger this year than past years.

The hall was packed with the products of 27 vendors.

“I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I hope everyone knows how much we appreciate everyone who played a part in this great show,” said Schenck. “From the exhibitors who set up such nice displays to the people who showed up and spent their money, to the newspaper for providing such great coverage.”

Next year the show, which has been taking place for more than 30 years, will see a couple of major changes.

It will change from a three day show to a two day show.

“We are eliminating the Friday night,” said Schenck, explaining that a lot of the crafters work, so they find it tough to get set up in time for the Friday night. She hopes that attendance will still remain high over the Saturday and Sunday.

Another major change for next year will be a small admission charge at the door for those attending. “People will be asked to give $1 or to donate a non perishable food item at the door next year,” said Schenck. The sole purpose of this admission will be to allow another charity to benefit from the event.

“The whole point of this event is to help out different organizations in the community,” said Schenck, explaining that this change will enable them to help out the food bank, which helps those in the community in need.

In addition to expanding the charity network of the show, Schenck hopes to expand the event’s social network by creating a Facebook page.

[…]

So far, over $25,000 has been raised in support of local prostate cancer care, and Tom Clapp, the chair of the Dare to Flash a ‘Stache campaign, and many of the campaign participants are smiling broadly under their now re-growing ‘staches.

“We had no idea what to expect, but people have really supported it,” said Clapp of this first time endeavour. “We are very pleased to say the least.”

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds is only of one of the many community members participating in the fund raiser.

Byvelds says that the community has responded to his challenge to raise $1,000. As of today he has collected just over $1,800. He adds that maybe $2,000 should be his new fund raising goal. Anyone who wishes to sponsor any of the participants can do so at www.flashastach.ca and Byvelds will also continue to collect donations by contacting him directly.

[…]

WILLIAMSBURG – A funding request from the Morrisburg Business Improvement Area has been turned down by South Dundas council.

The BIA requested just over $11,000 to help fund the installation of an electronic sign on the north face of the clock tower, in the Morrisburg Plaza.

The sign would be used to promote area businesses and community events.

The funding request was made through the Dollar for Dollar matching funds program. However, staff and council agreed that this application did not fit the criteria of this program which is intended to match community fund raising efforts for capital recreation projects on township-owned lands.

South Dundas chief administrative officer Steve McDonald characterized this as a “quasi-commercial” endeavour.

“This is definitely not in the true spirit or intent of the program,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

“The project does have merit, but the businesses are the best funders of this project,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds.

South Dundas councillor Jim Graham, who is the council appointed member to the BIA, asked on behalf of the organization if council would instead consider short term financing of the project, for which the BIA has already set aside some of the funds.

Council will explore the idea of instead providing a loan to the project once a formal request is made to council. 

In the past, council has provided loans for capital projects to other committees of council, such as the marina committee.

[…]

The doom and gloom being predicted for area farmers at the height of this summer’s drought, has not come to fruition locally and most area farmers are now wrapping up an early harvest season.

Archie Mellan, local councillor and Hulbert cash crop farmer, spoke with The Leader Monday about this year’s harvest. “Generally, I think most are pleasantly surprised,” said Mellan.

This year the soybean crop was about average on his farm. “The beans came through amazingly well,” said Mellan, explaining that they are more resilient to the drought conditions experienced this summer.

On his farm, the corn yield was about half a tonne per acre below the normal average. 

Mellan said the corn yields this year are very sporadic and directly reflect the amount and timing of the rain, explaining that those farms a little to the north of his farm seem to have even lower yields, while those to the south seem to have slightly higher yields.

“Those sporadic rains really made a difference,” said Mellan.

Although the corn harvest was below average, Mellan said, “We are satisfied with what we got. It’s a lot better than the doom and gloom they were forecasting back in July and August.”

The dry weather did allow the corn to mature and dry down quickly.

This year, his corn harvest was finished by the end of October, which is two or three weeks ahead of schedule for an average year.

Because prices are driven by the US market, droughts in that country mean that prices have been driven up. 

“So, the price makes up for the yield lost,” said Mellan.

“In this area, everybody’s down a bit, but we’re not too bad off. In other areas yields are down, 1-1.5 tonnes per acre, and it’s hard to recoup that.”

The farmers most affected by this year’s drought locally are dairy farmers, as there is a real shortage of forage. 

“The second cut of hay this year, was basically non-existent,” said Mellan. “I’ve seen them taking off hay into October, because they simply need the tonnage of feed. Maybe they can make up the difference with corn silage.” 

[…]