News

Local Branches from Chesterville, Finch, Ingleside, Newington, Williamsburg, Winchester and Riverside Heights enjoyed the theme Aloha, “From Hawaii” at the Stormont-Dundas Women’s Institute’s District Annual Meeting at the Allan Hall in Morrisburg on May 23. 

Guests were present from Prescott, Prescott County and Glengarry.

Florence Hoople and Betty Wheeler were presented with Life Memberships for their dedication and work with the Women’s Institute and Elaine Hutchinson received the Women of Excellence Fair Award for the years of work at Stormont County Fair and in the community.

Elaine is the mother of seven children, 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She helps raise money for her church and attends all WI meetings. 

When the Forbes library in Newington, was closed, Cathy Cloutier,  Alin Dingwall and Elaine  petitioned the then Osnabruck Council to use the building for community activities. 

Later an anonymous donor gave $20,000 to have the building moved to The Lost Village site. 

Elaine is on the executive of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Retired Teachers of Ontario, District 25 and previous to her retirement she had been on the executive of the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Womens’ Teachers Federation. 

She was also on the Steering Committee of the Early Childhood Learning Centres.

Back in 1981, while teaching at Newington Public School,  Elaine was approached by Reta Raymond who had drawn up the first prize list for school children to enter their work in Stormont County Fair, under the supervision of the area school teachers. 

Shirley Aitken and Elaine with this initial help from Reta started the first Educational Department at the fair. Shirley helped until she retired a few years later, but Elaine continued for several years.

Elaine has been Vice President of Stormont County Fair, member of the Photographic committee and in 1992 she created the first Donor Appreciation Display to show the prizes donated by area businesses, and the lists of sponsors to the fair.

After greetings from South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds, the Chesterville Branch conducted the Memorial Service in memory of seven highly esteemed  members: Margaret Casselman and Betty Forward from the Chesterville Branch: Eileen Gallinger and Muriel Kenward from the Riverside Heights Branch; Iva Eamer Wylie and Louise Tait from the Newington Branch and Joyce Patterson from the  Williamsburg Branch.  

In the afternoon Jim MCDonell brought greetings from Toronto.

The guest speaker W. Shearing of Morrisburg enlightened the group about the local plans to celebrate the War of 1812. 

New signs are coming for the roadways along the St. Lawrence River to indicate where encounters with the Americans took place. 

The area has its own local hero, John Locke, who risked his life to inform the British that an attack was coming. Locke avoided detection by climbing a tree until the troops had passed.  

Florence Hoople and Ruth (Hoople) Szini dressed in 1812 attire to show their part in the Battle of Hoople Creek video created by teacher Wes Gosling at Rothwell-Osnabruck with students Nolan Thompson, Zach Murphy and Jessica Wilson. 

The report is that in 1812 the Americans crossed the border at Hoople Creek to move on to Montreal and capture Canada. Our Canadian militia were outnumbered, but the delay meant that the British supplies were saved. 

After the battle Elinor Hoople found a serverely wounded soldier near her cabin. The children fetched Mary Hoople who tended him but he died the following day. The Americans retreated back across the border the following day. 

The meeting closed with Lynn Gilmour inviting everyone to District Annual to be held in Williamsburg next year.

Photos & story contributed

[…]

On the weekend of June 8th and 9th, The Glens’ Association will hold their annual reunion at the Cornwall Armoury.

The Glens’ (SD&G Highlanders) Association exists to continue the regimental “esprit de corps” of those who have served and the families of those served in Canada’s Armed Forces as members of the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders. 

A highlight in the association’s activities is the sponsorship of the Annual Glens’ Reunion on the weekend closest to the anniversary of D-Day. A key part of the reunion is a special project. 

In 2011, it was the dedication of two pieces of art memorializing locations in Normandy that are special to Glens – Hell’s Corner and Abbaye D’Ardenne. 

The plan for the 2012 Reunion is the recognition of the families of the 11 Glens killed liberating Leestsen, The Netherlands, on April 4, 1945. This will involve contacting families across Canada from New Brunswick to British Columbia.

The liberation of Leesten was part of seizing control of the area around Zutphen, a strategic objective of Field Marshall Montgomery. 

In 1945, Leesten was a small rural community on the outskirts of Zutphen. Today, Leestsen is a modern sub-division of Zutphen. And, the people have not forgotten the 11 Glens. 

Today, 10 streets and one bridge are named after them. The streets are lined with maple trees. Duplicate street signs have been received at the Cornwall Armoury for presentation to as many of the families as we can locate and bring to Cornwall in June 2012. 

To date, five of the 11 families of the men killed at Leesten will be attending the reunion. 

Morrisburg’s Branch 48, Royal Canadian Legion contributed $1,000 towards the costs of supporting families returning to Cornwall for this special part of the reunion.

His Excellency Wim Greets, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada has accepted an invitation from The Glens’ Association to participate in the presentation ceremony that follows the reunion’s memorial service. 

Whenever Glens visit the Leesten area, they receive a regal reception. 

Many of the area’s politicians have witnessed this hospitality on a recent Glens Tour. They will have an opportunity to express their thanks to the Ambassador at a special reception to be held in honour of the Ambassador.

The annual memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 9th at 5 p.m. with the Leesten Signs Ceremony following at 6 p.m. 

During the memorial service, Morrisburg resident Private Carman Reddick will be remembered. Carman was killed on October 9, 1944, when the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders were fighting to liberate the western bank of the Scheldt Estuary. 

His grave site is in the Adagem Cemetery, Belgium.

The public is welcome to attend the Memorial Service and the Leesten Signs Ceremony.

[…]

This past weekend, in less than 24 hours, South Dundas saw two car accidents, each with fatal consequences.

According to police reports, at approximately 8:15 on Saturday morning, June 2nd, SD&G OPP officers responded to a report of a collision at the junction of County Road 2 and County Road 16 in South Dundas Township.

The investigation revealed that  91 year old Alfred Link of South Dundas was south bound on County Road 16 when he failed to stop at a stop sign. 

His 2003 Chevy Impala struck a 1991 GMC pick-up being operated by 35 year old Curry Hitsman of Cornwall. Hitsman was west bound on County Road 2.

Two young children in the GMC pick-up were transported to the Winchester Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Link was transported to the Winchester hospital and died a short time later from a head injury sustained in the collision.

On Friday afternoon, June 1st, at approximately 3:15 p.m., SD&G OPP responded to a single vehicle accident on Highway 31 in South Dundas Township.

According to reports, 60 year old Martin Wood of Winchester was operating a white 1994 Chrysler south bound on Highway 31, South Dundas Township. For reasons under investigation, he left the roadway, entered the west ditch and struck a hydro pole.

 Wood was pronounced deceased at the scene.

SD&G OPP officers, assisted by Technical Traffic Collision investigators, continue the investigation for each of the crashes.

[…]

“That’s the amazing part,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, “that there are some more young people coming along.”

Byvelds was referring to what he said was a 10 per cent increase in population for the 0 to 4 age group in South Dundas, as outlined in Statistics Canada’s Census Profile for South Dundas.

While base numbers were released earlier this year, a breakdown of gender and age groups was released only recently.

Where we’ve grown the most, Byvelds pointed out, is in the 60 to 75 age group. “They see something they like and they move,” he said, suggesting that the change does present some challenges.

“We’re getting older. The median population has increased,” he said. In 2006, the median population was 43.6 whereas in 2011 it was 47.3. “We’ll have to see how we work with the numbers and how we go from there.”

He pointed out that there is an encouraging increase in the population of those in their 20’s, but lamented the loss of “some of those in their 30’s, in their prime employment years.”

The population of South Dundas, according to the Census Profile, has grown 2.5 per cent in the last five years. The breakdown in gender put females ahead of males in South Dundas by 185 in 2011.

While the majority of the population, 84.9 per cent, was aged 15 and over in 2011, there were 1,640 children aged 14 and under in South Dundas. Of those between the ages of 15 and 19, there were 695.

In 2011, the breakdown in population in South Dundas according to age was as follows: 945 people in their 20s; 1,025 people in their 30s; 1,600 people in their 40s; 1,715 people in their 50s; 1,695 people in their 60s; 930 people in their 70s; and 540 people in their 80s.

[…]

“I have received information from other groups in South Western Ontario that proponents have been revisiting councils who have wind turbine projects proposed for their areas in an effort to gain their approval,” said Bruce Albers, president of the South Branch Wind Opposition Group.

Concerned by the information, Albers and the opposition group sent a letter to several governmental representatives including council members for both South Dundas and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal townships as well as local members of parliament and members of provincial parliament.

“The letter was to remind both South Dundas and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal councils that there is a significant number of residents who oppose these projects,” said Albers, “meaning councils should not assume the community is in favour of such projects.”

In the letter, the group stated: “We sincerely hope that if the Ontario government initiates any call to municipalities, townships or counties soliciting support that the broader public, including groups such as ours, will be consulted and included in the determination of any assignment of ‘points’.”

Premier Dalton McGuinty’s recent changes to the Green Energy Act outline a points system whereby a community’s interest in wind projects is determined. The initiative is meant to help those communities who want the projects to get them more quickly.

There is not, as of yet, a system or device by which a community can outright refuse projects.

The South Branch Wind Opposition Group’s letter ended with a plea: “Your assistance in ensuring that all voices of affected residents are considered and heard in this divisive debate is appreciated.”

On June 4th, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds reported that council has not been approached by any wind company proponents other than Prowind Canada. 

He also confirmed that council has not been approached by any provincial governmental body in relation to the points system.

“We will follow whatever the protocol is,” said Byvelds, in reference to dealing with any future  contact from possible wind company proponents.

[…]

“It’s been a nightmare,” said Bert Geertsma, a resident of South Dundas, who recently received a bill of $18,313.85 from the Township of South Dundas.

The bill is for Geerstma’s portion of an engineering report for the Barkley Branch to the Weegar McMillan Municipal Drain.

The issue, according to Bert’s brother Jake, began with a simple desire to have the “crick” cleaned out. He had gotten an estimate for the job, approximately $42,000 altogether, and ventured forth to the township to find out how to proceed.

According to Jake, he was told by Don Lewis, manager of planning and enforcement in South Dundas, that he would need to get his neighbours involved by signing a petition.

Armed with 15 names, Jake said that he went back to the township with the paper and then waited for further instruction.

According to Bert, in early November of 2011, affected residents received notification that the Barkley Branch project would cost approximately $350,000 to complete based on an engineering report by SAI Engineering.

Several neighbours withdrew their support for the “cleaning” only to discover that they were now on the hook for the engineering report fee, something the Geertsma brothers maintain they were not informed about prior to the report taking place.

In fact, both brothers maintain that they wanted the Barkley Branch creek cleaned out, but that the report is actually an estimate on creating a whole new municipal drain. “We got a report we never asked for,” said Bert.

“He just went on his own and did it,” said Jake, referring to Lewis.

According to Bert, the engineering report itself cost approximately $41,000 and was divided amongst a handful of residents.

Armed with examples from other Ontario municipalities and backed by his Ottawa lawyer, Donald R. Good, Bert maintains that the initial petition is invalid and, therefore, those listed should not be held accountable for the bill. 

The petition in question is a two-sided form: side A is meant to be a geographical description of the property requiring drainage work while side B is meant for names, contact information, and each land owner’s lot description.

Land owners who signed or printed their names on the form used side A, never actually seeing side B, which has a disclaimer explaining liability.

This alone, said Bert, should have caught the attention of township administration and the form should have been returned with instructions for filling it out properly. This, he said, wasn’t done.

In addition, several properties are co-owned between wife and husband, but only one person has signed. To be legal, he explained, the form requires both signatures.

Not only does the form lack the requisite co-owner signatures, said Bert, but it also lacked the signature of the township clerk.

For these reasons, Bert maintains that the township and the engineer should have recognized the petition as invalid and, therefore, chosen not to proceed.

Speaking for the Township of South Dundas, mayor Steven Byvelds, said that “council had a meeting to consider it. Council did what it had to do with the Act,” maintaining that proper procedures, as outlined by the Drainage Act, were followed.

“The township is trying to wash their hands of us,” said Bert. “I’ve talked to councillors in other townships and they can’t believe what’s going on.”

“All we wanted was a clear out,” emphasized Jake, referring back to the $42,000 estimate he’d already gotten from a “reputable contractor” prior to the whole issue taking place. “We got ripped off big time.”

Bert is committed to proceeding with legal action, if necessary.

[…]

The Township of South Dundas, along with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, is proud to announce the launch of the South Dundas Charter for Active Living. 

To kick off the launch, we are planning an “On the Go Dundas County” challenge where South Dundas will compete against North Dundas in a healthy living challenge. 

Linking Hands and the Eastern Ontario Health Unit are teaming up with North Dundas and South Dundas Townships to challenge all residents to exercise and eat well for four weeks. This is a competition between the townships to see who can get the most participants. 

The challenge will encourage residents of all ages to incorporate physical activity and healthy eating into their daily routine. 

The “On the Go” challenge will be taking place between June 3rd and July 14th with the best four weeks used to accumulate the minimum necessary minutes and servings for both physical activity and healthy eating. 

You can pick any four week period between June 3rd and July 14th to take the challenge.

If residents meet the minimum requirements they will be entered into a draw for prizes. Prizes include gift certificates for recreation programs, green food bags and other great prizes.

We encourage you to participate in order to accumulate points for your township to see which township gets the most participants.

You can pick up your On the Go tracking and prize entry form at the township office, 4296 County Road 31, as well as at any of the Dundas libraries.

The goal of the South Dundas Charter for Active Living is to improve the physical and mental well-being of South Dundas residents by encouraging families and individuals to integrate active living in their everyday life as they learn, work and play through continued education, promotion of healthy living and accessible programming. 

We want to ensure that every resident has the chance to live an active lifestyle through accessible and affordable recreation programming, accessible parks and playing fields and community activities. 

For more information on the Charter for Active Living, please visit the recreation page of the Township of South Dundas website at www.southdundas.com or contact Ben Macpherson, Recreation Program Coordinator, at 613-543-2937.

[…]

The Township of South Dundas moved forward with the action planning phase of their community strategic plan on May 30th at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

The South Dundas public was invited to participate in creating action plans based on the six key themes originally identified by the public during the community cafés held in March.

The six themes were:

• Implement beautification projects to strengthen our sense of pride and community;

• Strengthen South Dundas’ agricultural sector through partnerships with the tourism industry;

• Sustain South Dundas’ small town lifestyle through appropriate development;

• Support business expansion and job creation;

• Create a municipal identity that will celebrate South Dundas’ rich history and culture; and,

• Create recreational programs,  opportunities and facilities that will attract and retain families, children and youth.

Turnout for the action planning meetings was small, with approximately six people for the afternoon sessions and 10 for the evening sessions.

“I was certainly hoping for more people,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. 

“Hopefully, there’s a few others that will put some things online,” he continued, referring to the dedicated email address for strategic plan ideas (csp@southdundas.com). “There’s always an opportunity to send comments in.”

According to Sari Liem of Dillon Consulting, the firm hired to develop the plan, the idea behind the action planning is to “turn wishes into strategic direction.”

During the Community Cafés, public participants made wishes for the township. Liem explained, “we’re going through the wishes and building upon them, turning them into goals.” She referred to this as “informed direction.”

“We’re fleshing out specific actions,” she said. “This is all meant to be building blocks.”

The specific actions, once identified, were then put into a time frame of short term (0 to 2 years), mid term (3 to 5 years), and long term (6 to 10 years), with an emphasis on short term.  

Each of the six action planning groups followed this process when developing their plans. 

In addition to creating action plans, each group identified possible partnerships and alliances that might be pursued in making the actions a reality. 

Liem explained that the community strategic plan is a ‘living’ document, meaning that it is fluid and open to change at any time.

Reminded of past strategic plans and the failures to follow through on those plans, Byvelds emphasized that “we’re committed to at least trying our best to make this strategic plan work. It’s not going to sit on a shelf.”

Armed with the public’s ideas, Dillon Consulting will create a recommended vision statement for South Dundas. In addition to this, an implementation strategy, complete with a time line for action, will be provided.

When ready, Dillon Consulting will present the final report to council for approval and, following council’s approval, it will then be released to the public.

South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan pointed out that “we’re not doing this because we have a problem, we’re doing this to be proactive and plan for the future.”

[…]

Morrisburg’s Giant Tiger donated $350 to the Dundas County Food Bank on June 4th. The donation arose from a recent Easter contest whereby customers, for the price of $1, could submit their guess of how many jellybeans were contained in a giant mason jar. In the end, store manager Ken Rundle said approximately 347 guesses were submitted and he rounded the number up to an even 350. Store staff unanimously chose to donate the money to the food bank, said Rundle. Sean Dowson submitted the closest guess, winning a $50 gift card as well as the jar of 1,537 jellybeans. Dowson’s guess was just 10 jellybeans shy of the actual number! On hand to receive the donation were four representatives from the Dundas County Food Bank’s board of directors. The Dundas County Food Bank is currently in need of the following items: Kraft dinner, brown beans, spaghetti sauce, canned meat, canned vegetables, Jello, and instant pudding.

[…]