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A capacity crowd gathered on May 6 at Matilda Hall for “The Amazing Grannies Tea & Vintage Fashion Show”.  

Guests were greeted by 23 hostesses, each of whom had decorated a table with creative décor in keeping with the  “Springtime in Paris”  theme, complete with Eiffel towers and other paraphernalia. 

The majority of guests donned hats or fascinators which enhanced the vintage theme.

On hand was Chris Marshall of Morrisburg, who has met 70 percent of his goal by raising $ 23,672 within a span of six months, for the completion of the construction of a maternity hospital in Uganda where he has recently been volunteering.  

A portion of the $3,900 profit realized from the Tea and Fashion Show was directed toward this project.

Master of Ceremonies for the event, Gail McCooeye, introduced a skit depicting the need for Canadians to send affordable generic drugs to Africa.  

A proposal to this effect is about to be voted on in Parliament, and the Amazing Grannies in Canada is advocating that this motion be passed.

After dessert and viewing of the various displays, vendor’s and baked goods tables, the fashion show began, organized by Robin Lane and directed by Dwight of Aura, Morrisburg.  Authentic hairdos and makeup artfully applied by Helder, also of Aura, depicted the era of the clothing modeled.  

The fashion show delighted the crowd and received a standing ovation. 

Outfits were collected from donors in Ottawa and within Dundas County.  

The models, some of whom travelled from Montreal and Toronto for the event, strutted professionally to the Parisian music played by Brian Erratt and Steve Barclay.   The show ended to the tune “Singing in the Rain”, during which models strolled the catwalk with their dogs which were wearing matching rain attire.

The organizing committee (Gail McCooeye, Harriet Clarke, Grace McDonough, Robin Lane) appreciated everyone who contributed to the success of this event.

[…]

 

“It is the policy of the Township of South Dundas that no person shall smoke, chew or engage in any other use of tobacco industry products, on or in any public playing field, playground equipment zone or other public recreation place.”

This is the opening statement in South Dundas recreation program coordinator Ben Macpherson’s draft policy document for smoke-free outdoor spaces, presented at council on May 15th.

Council accepted the draft, but as Macpherson pointed out, “the policy hasn’t officially been approved” as of yet. 

“I will be coming back with a couple of things added to the policy including a preamble to indicate that the policy is in effect when youth are present or are engaged in recreation or sport,” he said.

Suggestions for changes to the policy resulted from a discussion focused on the rights of smokers versus the rights of non-smokers.

Getting the discussion underway, councillor Evonne Delegarde was first to inquire about the adult events and whether this policy would impact those smoking adults that participate in those events, like blooper ball for example.

“It’s any event where children are part of the event,” clarified Macpherson. “It’s where there’s influence on children.”

“The more I thought about this,” said councillor Archie Mellan, “the more it bothered me. It is a legal activity.”

“What about the docks,” he asked.

“Yes, there would be kids playing, but it’s a policy,” Macpherson responded, emphasizing the difference between a policy, which is not policed, and a by-law, which is policed.

“A smoker doesn’t have the right to impose second-hand smoke on non-smokers,” conceded Mellan, “but a smoker has the right to have a cigarette. What about smoking areas?”

“If we’re going to promote the rights of the non-smokers, then we’re going to protect the rights of the smokers,” added Mellan.

“The largest concern is freedom of choice,” said Macpherson, pointing out that because it’s a policy it isn’t necessarily mandatory in the way a by-law would be mandatory. It’s more of a strong suggestion.

“I will support it,” said Mellan, “but I think we should have smoking areas if we’re going to have non-smoking areas.”

Mayor Steven Byvelds suggested there should be a preamble pointing out that “our concern is with children.”

“I don’t want to go down councillor Mellan’s road of having segregated smoking areas. They shouldn’t be doing it when young children are around,” he continued, predicting “the worst place will be in front of the arena.”

Mellan said that he understood the point of the policy was education and influence on young children, but added, “I hope we don’t take this to the next step.”

Byvelds reminded council that “the intention isn’t to ban.” 

“It will probably come down from the province eventually,” offered Macpherson.

Councillor Jim Graham suggested that the policy would police itself: “whether it’s adult areas or not, if there are non-smokers there they’ll make it known.”

According to the draft policy document, “public playing fields and recreation spaces means fields and/or lands of natural and/or man-made composition that are used for athletic purposes to conduct organized or unorganized sporting activities.”

“This shall include a 15 meter fringe area around the perimeter of the established playing boundary or recreation facility to include but not limited to baseball diamonds, soccer fields, lawn bowling, tennis/badminton courts, football fields, athletic tracks, and associated outdoor fields, ice rinks, pools, and other public recreation facilities including halls, centers, gazebos, pavilions, and shelters.”

“Smoke includes carrying a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other lighted smoking equipment.”

[…]

 

So what does “church” mean to most people?

For many, probably an hour or two on Sunday morning, sitting in one’s best clothes in a wooden pew, listening to a formal service, often conducted in formal language. 

That is, if one goes to church at all.

In these days of harried and busy households, parents working, kids signed up to sports and lessons, too few hours in the week as it is, most churches are facing a grim reality: seriously declining numbers. Only seniors in the pews. Few, if any, young families coming out.

That is why a new concept, The Messy Church, has taken many parishes by storm, and why Lakeshore Drive United Church in Morrisburg has embarked on what they hope will become a new, and vigorous approach to faith for people in South Dundas. 

On a Saturday evening, between 5 and 6:30 p.m., passersby might hear the sounds of hammers from the church hall. Children are building bird houses. In the back yard, young parents and their children, some grandparents too, are racing around playing games, or ducking under a bright, billowing parachute cloth. Others are using magnifying glasses to examine spring plants or occasional passing bugs. 

Inside the church a white-haired man is patiently demonstrating how to plant seeds in egg shells for home gardens and small hands are getting happily dirty. Some seniors are tearing up newsprint for papier maché. No one minds the boys and girls racing around, asking questions, lending a hand.

In the kitchen, men and women, some young, some much older are putting together a home-made spaghetti dinner, that everyone will sit down to share. Before the meal, adults and children join hands in a great circle to say grace. Later, exuberant hymns are sung, with lots of freedom to move, even dance in the aisles, as part of the short worship service.

This isn’t traditional church: rather messy church is a complement to, a companion to, traditional forms of worship.

“The ‘messy church’ offers a lot of flexibility,” said the Reverend Arlyce Schiebout, of Lakeshore Drive United Church. “When a church decides to adopt this program, you look around at the gifts the members of the congregation have, the facilities available in the church.

Then we approached area families with children, and asked them what they wanted. 

And it turned out that what they wanted was a ‘service’ on Saturday night (which surprised me) because they said that that was the one evening of the week, at supper time, that the family was all together. Our Saturday night messy church program is the result.”

The concept of the Messy Church began 10 years ago with Lucy Moore, who created the first Messy Church program with her husband’s  Anglican congregation in Portsmouth, England.

She felt that the church had lost one, perhaps two generations, and there was a real need to bring people back to their faith. Her scheme involved an all age event, with activities like “making things, blowing things up and exploring a Bible theme through all those activities.”

A session is brought together in celebration with story, song and prayer and a meal together. Activities are always child friendly and the feedback from parents exceptional.

Moore once said, “There are lovely stories of people rediscovering what Christianity is all about, or finding it for the first time.”

The Messy Church program is spreading in Canada.

“The core values stressed in the program are creativity (lots of activities), celebration, and eating together,” explained Rev. Schiebout. “And it must be intergenerational.” At Lakeshore, 30 members of the congregation have become involved.

At the Easter event, Morrisburg’s messy church helped the children create newspaper palm branches, and foam crosses with magnets and flowers they could take home. 

No one has to worry about dressing up for messy church.

“I find that I can talk to individuals and families in a more intimate manner than at Sunday worship,” Schiebout said. “We have a values and virtues thumb ball, that lists words like dignified and kind and wise. Where a kid’s thumb lands, that’s what we talk about. For some children, this is a special time to think, discuss and reflect.”

She feels that Messy Church is a good idea, although it takes a lot of energy and commitment from a faith community to make it work.

“Messy church is a way to share the gospel message in a more relaxed format.

 A church needs to be instantly responsive to young families and people. We must leap in and accept the challenge.”

Messy Church will meet again on June 2, at Lakeshore United Church at 5 p.m.

There is always room.

[…]

 

With spring well underway and summer just around the corner, it is finally time for farmers’ markets.

According to South Dundas clerk, Brenda Brunt, there is a by-law permitting two markets in the township: “one in Morrisburg across from the Pinkus Plaza and one in Iroquois by the Information Booth.”

She reported that “we sell six permits for each site. We have filled Iroquois but a couple of spots are left in Morrisburg.”

Brunt explained that the booths are filled when permit-holders have something to sell and, due to its unpredictable nature, the township does not advertise the farmers’ markets.

Predictability aside, according to Farmers’ Markets Ontario’s website, “shoppers love them because they can buy top-quality farm-fresh products directly from the person who produced them – and can often find products they won’t find anywhere else.”

“Communities love them because they bring people together and can turn once-deserted areas into hives of activity, attracting extra business for stores and restaurants nearby.”

[…]

 

Amidst all the beautiful blooms in the Garden Centre at the Canadian Tire Store in Morrisburg on Friday, there was a little Christmas gift-giving going on. Pictured above, centre, Canadian Tire’s Ninon Proulx (left) and manager Christine Thompson present a cheque for $570 to Dundas County Food Bank board member Brian Cox, left, and vice-chair Terry Triskle (far right). The very much appreciated donation came about as a result of gift card stocking holders that were sold at the store for $2 apiece during the Christmas season. This comes at a great time said Triskle in thanking the store and the customers who supported the campaign. “Pretty much, anytime from February through May, we don’t have a lot coming in. Food or cash is always welcome,” he said. The Dundas County Food Bank has locations in both Morrisburg and Winchester and collection boxes for non-perishable food donations in various locations in both South and North Dundas. Cash donations are always most welcome and are used to purchase perishable food items that are included in the food boxes, along with regular items when the Food Bank stock runs out.

[…]

 

Fresh out of the garden and fresh off the farm, Sheldanna Farm will be sharing freshly-made goods at several local farmer’s markets this spring and summer.

Ann-marie and Sheldon Hollister of Ingleside started their farm as a hobby several years ago. It wasn’t until recently that they decided to make this a full-time ‘job.’ In fact, running the farm is a family affair with the couple’s three children helping out as well.

The 22 acre property includes five acres of gardens with sheds and pasture for an assortment of wildlife, two trails through forest which includes a tree house in an actual tree, and, of course, a home.

The Hollisters have called Sheldanna Farm their home for seven years. According to Ann-Marie, “we started out with just chickens and a garden. I just kept adding.”

Currently, the Hollisters have an assortment of projects on the go as well as a list of things they want to try.

With several fields filled with gardens and a new outdoor greenhouse and indoor greenhouses, the couple is preparing for an abundance of fruits and vegetables this year. In addition to selling their fresh produce, the Hollisters will use some to make jams, jellies, and preserves.

In addition to the abundant plant life on the farm, there is quite an assortment of wildlife, including goats, pigs, chickens, hens, roosters, ducks, rabbits, pigeons, turkeys (soon), and, of course, a cat and a dog.  

Not all animals on the farm will become meat for the table. Some of the goats will produce milk, which will then be used to make butter, yogurt, cheese and even soap. 

Another goat, the first of its kind to come to the farm, will produce wool, which Ann-marie intends to “learn how to spin, but that’s a winter project.”

Sheldanna Farm has two kinds of pigs, pot belly and the average meat pigs. The two pot bellies are rescues who live on the farm for no other purpose than just ‘to be’. 

For now, the three meat pigs, soon to be joined by three more, will be able to live happily in a field of their own in amongst the trees, not far from the garden fields.

As a “big animal person,” Ann-marie has gone out of her way to ensure that all the animals will live their lives in clean, happy conditions. According to the Sheldanna Farm brochure: “We take great pride in our animals and believe that they should live the best life they can before it is their time to give back to us.”

The meat chickens are permitted to grow naturally, rather than being rushed as so many others are in similar situations. They’re given the room and space to live and grow without being confined like most chickens bred purely for meat.

The laying hens, who had originally been permitted to roam the property freely, have recently been penned up in a large area due to unauthorized hunting by local foxes.

Of their almost 50 chickens, the Hollisters lost 25 to the hungry foxes. On May 10th, Ann-marie and Sheldon picked up an additional 15 hens and are expecting to get another 20 in the very near future. They buy their hens as day-olds to prevent them from being de-beaked, a common practice that Ann-marie believes is inhumane.

Due to the recent fox activity, the Hollisters secure all of their animals in their pens at night.

The laying hens are not the only birds laying eggs right now. Sheldanna Farm is also home to several different kinds of ducks, two of which are staying close to their nests. 

In addition to meat chickens and laying hens, the couple have decided to add six turkeys to the mix. If all goes well, they’ll probably continue farming turkeys.

In addition to your average farm animal, Sheldanna Farm is home to a new pair of pigeons who, according to Ann-marie, mate for life. 

There are also a hand-full of rabbits. Some are from a line originally raised for meat, while others are from a line of domestic pets. 

Ann-marie has also bred her lionhead rabbits, a domestic rabbit, for their babies, which were in turn sold to pet stores.

In addition to produce, meat, and animal by-products, Ann-marie makes a line of gluten-free baked goods, freshly made for the day they’re sold. She began this venture after being diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity. And, like most everything else she does on the farm, she learned by researching, reading and doing.

With the production of so much of what the average family would buy at the grocery store, the Hollister’s actual grocery bill is minute. According to Ann-marie, some months they spend anywhere between $200 and $400 per month for five people.

They even make their own maple syrup. Unfortunately, they can’t produce enough to sell, but they do have enough to satisfy the needs of their young family.

In fact, that is precisely why they’ve decided to pursue this lifestyle, said Ann-marie: to be together as a family and to provide for their family’s basic needs. She pointed out that farming on this scale is not a way to get rich, but to cover the basics.

As for how they market their many products, it’s through hard work, persistence, and getting out there and getting known.

At present, they have permits to sell their products at various farmer’s markets throughout the area. On Thursdays, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., they will be in Morrisburg. On Fridays, they will be in Long Sault from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. On Saturdays, they will be in both Iroquois, from 8 a.m. until noon, and in Chesterville, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. They will also sell on-farm on Saturday afternoons from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

In addition to farmer’s markets, the couple is also part of the North Dundas Community Cooperative, a not-for-profit service whose mandate is: “Linking members of the community with local food producers and artisans, to provide healthy choices and showcase talent.”

Also, Sheldanna Farm is a registered Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. According to the Ontario CSA directory, “CSA farmers receive a set fee (from you – the consumer) prior to the start of growing season. In return, you receive shares (produce) in the farm’s bounty and you also share the risks due to weather and other factors beyond the control of the farmer.”

For those participating in the Sheldanna Farm CSA, baskets can be picked up at all farmer’s market locations or on-farm. Ann-marie pointed out that those who pick up their baskets on-farm have the opportunity to switch out whatever vegetables they don’t like for more of another. 

The Sheldanna Farm CSA serves Ingleside, Long Sault, Cornwall, Morrisburg, Iroquois, Winchester, Chesterville, Ottawa and area.

In an effort to market their farm and its many products, the Hollisters plan to participate in as many community fair events as possible. They were recently invited to participate in Morrisburg’s Canada Day festivities.

To learn more about Sheldanna Farm, the Hollisters invite the public to visit.

Sheldanna Farm is located at 4957 Aultsville Road, Ingleside.

[…]

 

“This maze will take you through the thoughts, feelings and emotions of our clients who are attempting to secure food, shelter and finances.”

On May 9th, at the Civic Centre in Iroquois, the Dundas Interagency Committee sponsored a Homelessness Maze.

The event was organized to give workers in the social service professions an opportunity to experience what their clients might experience and to provide a clearer picture of the hardships and frustrations they face daily while attempting to secure food, shelter and financial assistance. 

According to Julie Graham, a member of the Dundas Interagency Committee and a health educator and promoter for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), this was the second time the committee has run this event. 

“We had hosted our first in 2009 and it was quite the success thanks to the Canadian Mental Health Association. So, we asked them to come out again this year to  host one in South Dundas,” she said. 

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) of Champlain East organized and led the ‘maze’ at the May 9th event.

Kim Height, team supervisor in Cornwall for the CMHA, introduced the idea of the Homelessness Maze to the area four years ago when she created her own version of the maze in Cornwall.

Since then, she has led two maze events in Cornwall, one in North Dundas and, now, one in South Dundas. She was first introduced to the idea at an event in Toronto.

The idea, said Height, is to “instill compassion” in service agency workers and to give them the opportunity “to really experience what it’s like to be somebody searching for those services.”

Some of the agencies participating in the event were: Job Zone, Health Units in Leeds, Grenville and Lanark and Eastern Ontario, T.R. Leger, Ontario Works, the House of Lazarus, various ministries, Cornwall and Area Housing Authority, South Dundas Township, North Dundas Township, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, the Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing, and the Legal Clinic.

According to Graham, the day began with groups meeting outside the Iroquois Civic Centre  where they received their information package. 

Each group, whether it contained four, five or six members, received one package with details of the “character” they would be playing. 

Graham’s group of five were “pretending” to be a woman with two small children.

Height explained that the “characters” were chosen from the vulnerable sector or the high-risk population.

The maze portion of the event required each group to navigate through the various agencies as the character (client profile) they were given. 

In order to replicate the difficulty faced by those attempting to access help from one agency to another, barriers were set up. Finding and even getting to each station was a challenge.

In addition, there could be significant wait times, mimicking the reality many of their clients face daily.

“We’re making it difficult for them,” said Height of the participants in the event. “We’re asking them to work as a group and then come back and talk about their emotions.”

“If they’re experiencing this within an hour, then imagine someone living with this,” she said of the frustration some of the participants were exhibiting.

Graham pointed out that “it is not clear-cut, there’s lots of red tape. It’s not easy to acquire the basics that a human being needs.”

Mark Snelgrove, CMHA employee in charge of this year’s Homelessness Maze, pointed out that “we get as many of the real service providers – actual people with the actual knowledge – as possible.” 

He was referring to the many stations set up throughout the maze, including the food bank, Ontario Works, the landlord, the legal clinic, social housing, the bank, the resource centre, and the detention centre.

Snelgrove said “there’s a detention center for breaking the rules.” Graham had already been to the detention center once for breaking a rule.

Following the maze, which took approximately two hours, the participants were given the opportunity to come back together to discuss their experiences.

The main question they addressed, said Graham, is “What are some of the issues our clients are facing?”

Participants were given “the opportunity to suggest some potential changes to make it a bit more user-friendly,” reported Graham.

“It’s all about feeling the real experience that our clients would experience,” said Snelgrove. 

“It’s to remind people of the human side: everyone who comes through has a story and everyone is an individual.”

As to the success of the event, according to Graham, “this one exceeded the first.” 

Height added that “as for the comments I’ve been hearing, it’s working as successfully as it did the first time.”

Ben Macpherson, representative for the Township of South Dundas, said, “I was one of many who helped put the day together and also participated in the event.” 

“We had a very good turnout of 64 people across a variety of agencies. It was a great way to see the difficulties and frustrations that people face when dealing with the organizations that were represented,” he added.

After receiving the information package and before beginning the maze, the May 9th participants were treated to a one hour presentation about the 211 Ontario service.

According to their website, www.211ontario.ca, 211 Ontario “provides information and referral to community and social services in Ontario.”

[…]

 

“We just try to fill in gaps and respond to needs as they arise,” said Cathy Ashby of the Glengarry Inter Agency Group Inc (GIAG).

The Ontario Early Years Centre (OEYC), with locations in Morrisburg and Iroquois, is a government funded program that falls under the ‘umbrella’ of the GIAG.

“It’s an umbrella organization with a volunteer board,” said Ashby. GIAG is based in Alexandria, but has expanded outward to include other areas in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry.

According to Ashby, GIAG “applied to be the lead organization for that (OEYC). We became involved in child care helping out the Morrisburg District Cooperative Preschool.”

“Instead of cancelling the Iroquois School Age program, we’ve carried on. The Learning Centre now has four school age child care programs.”

According to their website, GIAG was established in 1976 as a “non-profit community organization” whose goals include increasing visibility, excellence, continuity, and program development.

Some of the services offered under the umbrella of the GIAG are: the Ontario Early Years Centre for SD&G; the Learning Centre for SD&G; various youth programs in Glengarry and Dundas; employment services for Glengarry; and, seniors’ programs for North and South Glengarry. “It is an unique agency whose programs span a lifetime.” 

“People across SD&G and the GIAG are truly ‘Together on life’s journey,’” commented Ashby.  

[…]