News

Concern about air pollution in Canada’s north, as shipping and mining activities in this remote region steadily increase, has led Environment Canada to install air quality monitors in two Nunavut communities. And installing those special monitors in Resolute and Cape Dorset during this past May was Dr. Ralf Staebler.

Staebler is a name that is very familiar within the community of South Dundas. 

Ralf’s parents, Manfred and Helga, who immigrated to Canada from Germany, farm just outside Iroquois, although brother Michael now operates the family business with his father. Ralf continues to call this area home as many members of his immediate family still live in South Dundas. However, Ralf’s career, since leaving his Eastern Ontario home town, has taken him to the farthest reaches of the great North, and placed him at the cutting edge of air quality research.

“My love of technology and nature inspired me to pursue a career in the field of air quality,” Staebler said. “I’ve been building gadgets since I was six, and I’ve always been an avid outdoors guy. This job in the science and technology branch gives me some of each.” 

A graduate in 1985 of Seaway District High School in Iroquois, Staebler was intensely interested in the sciences. He particularly remembers the late Wayne Johnston, who was his calculus teacher, and Rick Mackenzie, who was his chemistry instructor.

His passion for the sciences took him to Queen’s University in Kingston, where he earned a BScE in engineering physics, followed by an MSc in atmospheric physics from the University of Toronto. He was granted his PhD in atmospheric sciences by the State University of New York in Albany. In marked contrast to where he spends most of his time now, Ralf did his PhD field work in the Amazon jungles of Brazil.

He is employed with Environment Canada, and has gone to the Arctic specifically to study issues related to ozone depletions near the surface, carbon uptake by forests and various other topics involving the emission and deposition of pollutants.
 “I get to work on high-tech equipment and I get to make measurements in the Arctic, in forests, on aircraft, wherever there is a need for more data.”

Officially, Staebler’s home is in Toronto, and he works in Downsview. He is in charge of the Borden Research Station at CFB Borden, and spends much time there. But he has also been sent to such places as Alert, Nunavut, Barrow, Alaska, and put to sea on the Amundsen research icebreaker.

The rugged, empty terrain of the Arctic is a far cry from the gentler temperatures and changing geography he grew up with, but he has come to love the north. “The vast empty spaces and the harsh, but beautiful, pristine landscapes in the Arctic really put things in perspective. It’s a very addictive place,” he explained.

On his recent trip to the Arctic, he installed air quality monitors at Resolute and Cape Dorset which will keep an eye on increasing ship traffic, and the nature and extent of various pollutants in the north as the sea ice disappears. This summer, Staebler is going to the Alberta Oil Sands to participate in a large air quality study organized by Environment Canada.

For Ralf Staebler, his chosen field gives him an opportunity to “think outside the box, to tackle problems that have never been tackled before.”

He enjoys working with his colleagues, exploring new and intriguing ideas.

“I like to think that what we do is important, to ensure a liveable planet for future generations,” Dr. Ralf Staebler said. He hopes to continue his work in the Arctic and in other parts of Canada affected by pollution.

“Canada is the custodian of a huge portion of the Arctic. It is our responsibility to take care of our own backyard.”

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Having fun is what it is all about, whether it be playing ball or dancing and singing along to some great tunes…and with that said, the local Woodwork band has stepped up to home plate with the up and coming ball players of the Morrisburg T-Ball and Coach-Pitch program to help bring ball activity back to the South Dundas diamonds and baseball fun back to the kids. Coming up on Saturday, July 20 at the Morrisburg Legion, the members of the Woodwork band have traded ball gloves for guitars for a fundraiser dance to benefit the local ball program. “It’s an adult dance, and although there is no admission charge, we will be accepting donations at the door to our T-Ball/Coach-Pitch Ball program,” says Paul Sheldrick, who along with a handful of volunteers run the league in an effort to re-establish the sport in South Dundas. “We are calling it the Return to Glory Days Dance. We remember the glory days of ball when we played and had fun, and we are trying to bring back the fun and the game.” Sheldrick says he is hoping that everyone in the South Community will be on board to support the return of baseball/softball to the area, former ball fans and players, current ball players and parents of children who would like to see them return to the sport locally. He is delighted that the Workwork band of Bobby Paradis (singer/guitar), Ron Dupuis (singer/guitar), Justin Beckstead (drummer) and James Orendi (bass guitar), have donated their time to help out. All money raised at the dance will go to the T-Ball/Coach-Pitch program. Pictured above, after a tough Monday night practise, front are Rayna and Dorion Sheldrick. Centre, l-r, are Bobby and  Mason Paradis, Ron and Joseph Dupuis, Wyatt Brandwood, and James Orendi. Behind are Paul Sheldrick (left) and Justin Beckstead. The band, the kids and the organizers are encouraging everyone in the South Dundas Community to come out to the Return to Glory Days Dance on July 20 for a good time and a good cause.

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A four-day camp which gives beginners the chance to learn about and enjoy farm life took place at the Old Homestead Farm located just north of Iroquois. 

The July 2-5 western riding camp only had one student but 10-year-old Kate Zandbergen of Toronto wasn’t complaining.

“It was really fun. I learned a lot,” she said. This is the second year Kate has taken part in a week-long camp at the farm and the third year she has spent time at the Old Homestead learning about horses and riding.

For those who missed the July camp, there are plans in the works to offer another in August, if there is enough interest. Old Homestead owner Joy Casselman and her daughter Leanne are hoping to get a few more people to participate.

They can accommodate about six people at one time, as they provide all the horses and equipment for those who participate.

The camp is lead by Marilyn Ashby who has her level four in western riding and is working on her instructor’s level.

At the beginner’s level camp, the students get experience in stable management and riding lessons. “They do everything right from cleaning the stalls, on,” said Ashby, as they prepared to head out for an hour-long trail ride. 

The camp wrapped up last week with a barbecue and treats provided by Country Fresh Home Bakery.

Ashby and Casselman suggest that the camp is suitable for beginners aged eight and up, but they are also willing to offer adult camps or lessons for anyone interested.

“We try to do a little of everything here,” said Casselman, who just wants to help others enjoy the farm life as she does. 

Anyone interested in learning more about the programs offered, is welcome to contact Joy Casselman at 613-543-3357 or Marilyn Ashby at 613-803-3757.

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Morrisburg and Iroquois will get new welcome gardens this fall.

South Dundas council awarded the tender to Create It! Garden Design and Installation at their last regular council meeting.

The cost for the design and installation work is $5,550.

The welcome garden in Iroquois will be located on the island in front of the Iroquois Plaza near the buoys. 

The Morrisburg welcome garden will be located on the south-west side of the intersection of County Roads 2 and 31.

The design phase of the gardens is now underway. “The gardens are being designed to be visually appealing year round,” said South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan.

The actual planting is expected to take place in early September.

These welcome gardens came about as a result of directions outlined in the community strategic plan, which specifically mentioned beautification projects such as this one to enhance community gateways. 

[…]

 

For the 15th time there will be an antique festival in South Dundas.

This year’s antique festival, which is set to take place July 20 and 21, is being run by a committee who didn’t want to see the event disappear from South Dundas’ summer calendar of events, when the Morrisburg and District Lions Club opted not to host the 2013 event at the waterfront.

The Morrisburg Business improvement area is the host of the 2013 antique festival. The South Dundas Chamber of Commerce is a partner in the event and the Morrisburg and District Lions Club, though not hosting, have helped out.

“We are happy that the BIA picked up the ball to keep this thing rolling,” said Geraldine Fitzsimmons of the South Dundas Chamber of Commerce.

The event will take place at the Village Plaza in Morrisburg, with vendors set up in various locations, including two vacant store fronts and four vendor tents that will be set up on the mall, behind the clock tower. The stores being used include the former M&M Meat Shop location in the Pinkus Plaza and the former dollar store location in the Morrisburg Mall. 

The three locations will house a total of 18 vendor booths, with dealers coming from Gatineau, Ingleside, Brockville, Perth and Madoc.

While the waterfront location will be missed, Fitzsimmons says the vendors are pleased to be bringing their wares back to this community and are looking forward to the new venue.

“This new location in the mall should give us more drop-in traffic,” said Fitzsimmons. “We will have a lot more visibility from County Road 2.”  

“We’re excited about this event,” said Carl McIntyre, who chairs the antique festival committee. “We hope this will bring a lot of people into the heart of our community. This is all part of the effort to make this community more known.”

With only a few people working on organizing this event, they are finding themselves in need of some volunteers to help out with the logistics of the two day event. 

The antique festival takes place Saturday, July 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Free admission. Appraisals on site.  

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Over 600 historical re-enactors, two tall ships and a long boat will be part of the spectacle that will mark the bicentennial of the Battle of Crysler’s Farm July 13-14.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Bob Irvine, a member of the Friends of Crysler’s Battlefield, the non-profit organization that has for 13 years hosted the Crysler’s Farm battle re-enactments, spoke about the coming event and the future needs of the Crysler’s Farm organization.

The Battle of Crysler’s Farm was one of the most important battles of the War of 1812, as it kept control of the upper lakes out of the hands of the Americans.

“There’s only one 200th,” said Irvine, who with fellow organizers have kept that in mind throughout their preparations for the weekend event.

The Friends are all volunteer and they are at arm’s length from Upper Canada Village in terms of funding, although they do work in partnership with them because the Battlefield land belongs to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission.

Looking to the future, beyond this weekend’s event, Irvine says that the Friends organization which has about 65 members, including only six or seven very active volunteers, is in desperate need of more volunteers. 

“We need people to step up and keep this going,” said Irvine, explaining that the organization’s president, Robin Morris is expected to step down this year for health reasons.

Irvine is from Johnstown, and says that of those who belong to the organization, most are from farther afield than South Dundas, where the site is actually located. “We have only two people who are from the Morrisburg/Iroquois area,” he said.

Of this weekend’s event, Irvine added that re-enctors are coming from as far away as California to participate in the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Crysler’s Farm. “That’s how big this is in the re-enactment community.”

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 The third annual Carkinator Car and Moto Rally, that was held Saturday, July 6, raised $47,289 for the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation.

The money goes into the undesignated fund, which supports the ongoing needs of the hospital in a range of departments.

The Rally is named for NHL defenseman, Matt Carkner, and began as a fun event to bring together hockey  fans and car enthusiasts to fund raise for the WDMH Foundation.

Twenty-nine teams, with 110 participants travelled the car rally route designed by Keith and Linda Robinson of Morrisburg. It took them to pit stoops in Metcalfe, Marvelville, Morewood and Winchester. Pit stop challenges included hockey-themed activities.

NHL-ers participating in the event included Matt Carkner of the NY Islanders, Chris Neil of the Ottawa Senators, Terry Carkner, former Philadelphia Flyer, Bryan Helmer, former Washington Capital and Shean Donovan, former Ottawa Senator.

On average, rally teams raised $1,140, which is up over last year’s average.

The team called “Driving Miss Daisies” won the prize $2,500 prize of  a 400 level box at an Ottawa Senators home game, complete with limo service and dinner.

Diane Crummy won the prize for highest individual fund raiser, which gave her a $3,000 trip for two to Long Island to see the Islanders at home. The prize includes airfare, accommodations, meals, a post game tour of the locker room and $500 spending money.

Other winners included: Bob Carkner, who won the second highest individual fundraising prize of a $500 pressure washer from Canadian Tire in Morrisburg; “St. Daniel’s Holy Rollers” for the best rally quiz score; “St. Paul’s Angels” for the closest time; the “M & D Lions” won closest mileage; “Now We Are Three” won the pit stop challenges; Team “A to Z” won the top motorcycle team; and Kary Carkner’s team, the “Island Falconators” won the best poker hand.

Matt thanked everyone for all of their hard work raising funds and participating, “we can’t thank everyone enough for being part of this great day. I’m honoured to lead this fundraising event for the WDMH Foundation, joined by my fellow NHL-ers Bryan, Terry, Shean and Chris. I’m also touched that even though I don’t play for the home team anymore, you have all come out to cheer me on at this event through your participation, so thank you.”

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The South Branch Wind Opposition Group had council’s ear at a special meeting July 8.

The purpose of the meeting was to allow the opposition group to have an open discussion with council about the wind project that will see 10 industrial wind turbines installed around Dixon’s Corners, Brinston, Hulbert and Glen Stewart.

President of the opposition group, Leslie Disheau bombarded council with facts, figures and studies supporting the group’s argument that South Dundas should declare that it is “Not a Willing Host” to this or any other industrial wind project. 

So far, 76 municipalities across the province have already made this declaration.

Although municipal governments don’t have the power to prohibit wind developments from taking place within their boundaries, according to Disheau and the SBWOG, they do have the power to exert some regulatory control through easily enforceable bylaws to provide some protection to its residents against certain nuisances, such as noise and shadow flicker.

Disheau explained that shadow flicker nuisance can easily be mitigated by shutting down certain turbines at certain times of the day.

She also said that for some residents living in the area, who already have a history of epilepsy, or for those with autistic children the effects of shadow flicker could be much more than a nuisance.

However, without municipal regulation, there is little requiring the wind project operators to reduce these effects.

For noise, she suggested a bylaw that would require, for example, quiet nights again requiring the shutdown of the turbines during certain hours.

She too suggested that municipality should consider appropriate building permit and development fees, and be sure to have in place a process to ensure that appropriate funds are there to cover the cost of decommissioning the turbines.

Disheau brought into question the validity of some of the information gathered and submitted by the proponent, such as an ice throw study predicting an extremely minute chance of ice debris from a turbine impacting a passing car, as it was based on a turbine in the Shanly area that is no longer part of the project and the surrounding low traffic flow roads.

Disheau and the SBWOG would like to see more relevant information calculated regarding the chance of collision using one of the turbines in close proximity to the well travelled County Road 16.

Disheau also questioned the validity of the bird kill study and brought up the importance of the threatened Bobolink that is known to inhabit the Brinston area.

She too expressed concern over the effect pile driving for turbines will have on area wells and water quality.

Disheau also covered safety concerns, regarding the possibility of a turbine fire, dirty electricity and television interference that could effect satellite and internet service in the area.

Disheau told council about the decrease in property values, the people that are moving because of the project and the people that are choosing not to relocate to the area because of the project. 

She presented council with 108 signatures of those in the Dixon’s Corners, Brinston, Hulbert, Glen Stewart area who support the South Branch Wind Opposition Group in their effort to have South Dundas declare it is not a willing host.

“We pounded the pavement and had a lot of very engaging conversations with people,” said Disheau. “People have opinions and they want to express their concerns.” 

These opinions have also divided the community, according to Disheau. She has see the effects of this herself at church, and has heard much about the division in talking to people in the community.

Having now fully heard from the SBWOG, council decided that they need to hear from EDP Renewables, the proponent of the South Branch wind development, before deciding whether or not to declare South Dundas “Not a willing host.”

They plan to hear from EDP at next week’s council meeting.

Disheau had organized a tour of the Wolfe Island wind farm for council. The mayor and deputy mayor had toured Wolfe Island already that day so they declined to offer. Councillor Jim Graham, to said he has already seen many wind projects and didn’t see a need for the tour. Councillor Evonne Delegarde did take Disheau up on the offer, as she has not yet been to Wolfe Island since the wind turbines were installed.

South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan did attend the council meeting to hear Disheau’s presentation, but will not be voting on the matter as he has declared conflict of interest. 

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While South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds is getting an earful from a certain group of people about the proposed grain terminal for the Universal Dock, located along Lakeshore Drive in South Dundas, he too is looking at the proposed project for its broader benefit.

“As mayor, I’m looking at this as an opportunity to have a new business come to South Dundas,” he says.

“Looking at this from an economic development point of view, it’s a potential business that will generate revenue,” he added.

While he acknowledges that much of that revenue will go into the pockets of those in the agricultural community, there too will be some job creation. 

The company building the terminal is also a member of the Stormont Dundas and Glengarry business community.

“What this will do is provide a new market for agricultural products,” says Byvelds, who is a farmer.

As a farmer, he confirms that there is a need for such an outlet for agriculture commodities. 

“The reality is that we can’t use all the product that is made here and storage is an issue, so exporting makes sense,” he said. 

He explained that there are some relatively local outlets for product but during the busy harvest season there is a significant bottleneck. 

“Adding another outlet provides competition. And, competition is good for the industry. More competition tends to increase prices and that in turn brings more dollars into our local economy,” he added. 

The building permit application is still in front of South Dundas’ building officials. 

South Dundas Chief Building Officer Don Lewis, with the help of a peer review, has determined that the proposed terminal does meet the existing zoning requirements, however a building permit has not yet been issued.

While there is a process to obtaining a building permit, building permit issues are not a council matter. 

“In the end, if it meets applicable law, it can proceed,” said Byvelds. Lewis said the same.

Building permit issues only become a council matter if a zoning bylaw amendment is required. 

No zoning amendment is needed for this grain terminal project.

Byvelds acknowledges that people have alleged that his participating in voting on the matter could be seen as a conflict of interest. However, since building permits are not a council matter, and do not require a council vote, he has no conflict.

Mayor Byvelds has offered those opposed to the grain terminal the opportunity to make a presentation to South Dundas council as a delegation at the July 16 meeting.

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Tuesday, July 2, St. Lawrence Medical Clinic opened the doors of the new Iroquois clinic to its patients and to future growth.

Friday, June 28, The Leader was given a tour of the former St. Cecilia School in Iroquois.

The nearly $1 million, four month renovation of the former school was finished last week, on time and on budget.

“The retrofit of this old school into a new clinic worked really nicely,” said Stephen McCann, SLMC business manager.

The new location features 6,300 square feet of clinic space, with the opportunity to add more clinic space if needed as the school gymnasium remains in tact. For now, is being used for storage. 

This new configuration of the old school features much that was missing from the old clinic location that was only about 1,700 square feet in size.

Accessible washrooms, a full lab, mini lab, designated procedure room, secondary waiting room, and more secure reception area are all features of the bright, clean, beautiful new space that is filled with new equipment and furnishings.

McCann estimates that between this project and the ongoing Morrisburg clinic project, SLMC has invested about $170,000 in new equipment and furnishings. 

“This will be a lot better,” said Debbie Shaver, SLMC receptionist, of the new Iroquois clinic, who was proud to show off the new space. “This should allow us to move more patients through,” she said, explaining that the spacious waiting areas and prep areas should allow for improved efficiency. 

Presently the clinic is staffed with three doctors, the equivalent of two on a full time basis, three nurses, one lab tech and one receptionist, but now has room to grow their staff at every level.

In this new set up, each doctor has their own office and three patient exam rooms.

“This expansion gives us the opportunity to bring in a third doctor full time,” said McCann. He also added that they now have space to better accommodate the students who are always part of the process as all of the SLMC’s doctors are preceptors. 

While having space for an additional doctor, the new space also opens up the opportunity to add ancillary services such as nurse practitioners. While that is not a reality yet, that is an opportunity that the SLMC group can pursue.

McCann explained that every part of this project has been designed and built with longevity in mind and with a view to the future, right from the floors to the air system to the network cabling.

“We are ready for the next 20 years,” said McCann. 

The building is owned by the Municipality of South Dundas, and leased to the doctors for 20 years. The terms of that agreement are such that the cost of the renovation will be fully recovered through the lease.

CIBC or Hawkesbury was contractor for the project, that was supervised locally by Hartley Hodgson. “We are 100 percent satisfied with the job they did here,” said McCann. “Working with them was a great experience.

The Iroquois Clinic was the first of SLMC’s clinic projects to be completed. The Morrisburg clinic is looking at September completion. There is a desire for renovated space in Ingleside as well, if another doctor joins the group. 

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