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Feature Article - September 6, 2007 Citizen’s Appreciation Day at Ompah fire hall

by Jeff Green

Leo Ladouceur remembers how he joined the Ompah Fire Department. “I got a phone call from Barb Sproule on a Sunday. It was back in 1978. She called me because I had a four wheel drive truck and there was a fire to go to. That was the day I joined.”

As Leo Ladoucuer recalls, there really was no fire department in the 1970s. “If a fire couldn’t be put out with a pickup truck and some burlap, we either had to get the McDonalds Corners Department in or the place burned down,” Leo remembers.

Earlier this summer there was a ceremony in Kingston where Leo and Stan Seitz were awarded with 25-year service medals and certificates, and last Saturday they were both on hand in Ompah to receive the recognition in their own back yard, at the Ompah fire hall where the two men have served for all these years.

Stan Seitz got involved in the department in 1982, around the time it was being formally established. The department managed to purchase a used truck, but had no place to keep it until the fire hall was established.

To this day, 90% of the department’s equipment has been purchased with dollars they raised themselves, and this was one of the reasons that the department sponsored a Citizens’ Appreciation Day last week, to thank the community for supporting the department.

It was also an opportunity to demonstrate some of the department’s capabilities, including a demonstration of vehicle extrication.

Also on display, among the older trucks and First Response vehicle that the department has at its disposal, were the new fire boat, ice water rescue equipment, ATV and trailer that were purchased with the $36,000 which the Ompah Snowmobile Club donated to the fire service when the club folded a couple of years ago.

The Ompah department is justly proud of the service that has been provided over the years by its Emergency First Response team, which was formed 21 years ago to support the Parham-based ambulance service.

In spite of all the other competing events on the sunny long weekend, the Citizens’ Appreciation Day was a great success.

(photo 1: members of the Ompah fire deparment - photo Stan Seitz (l) and Leo Ladouceur (r) with township Councillor Fred Perry (c))

Letters - March 13, 2008

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Letters - March 13, 2008 LettersMarch 13

Development Would Not Pollute Sharbot Lake, Larry Chairot

Now That's Commitment!,Leo Ladouceur

Property Owner Responds Re:Cross Lake Rd, Brian Shier

Greetings from Christian Peacemaker Teams

Development Would Not Pollute Sharbot Lake

That some councillors would “cave” to a very few property owners in Central Frontenac who are opposed to a zone change is very disconcerting. The majority of the questions asked at the February 27th council meeting (Condominium Proposal Subjected to Public Scrutiny) held at the Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake had been answered by the presentations of Planning Consultant, Glen Tunnock, and Developer, Cameron Chiarot - had those questioners listened attentively.

Some council members truly understand that Sharbot Lake will experience growth and that a

wide variety of dwellings are necessary to adequately address the needs of those who wish to become residents of our hamlet.

There was a great lack of understanding on the part of some questioners as to what defines a condominium development. Perhaps some research into this area by these questioners would have been helpful to them. The comments made, in some cases, bordered on rudeness, not professionalism.

I expected questions from informed individuals. There were too many comments as to the precedent-setting acceptance of this zoning change. Did these questioners not hear the reiterated answer that each project stands on its own merits?

A fresh idea - an idea about the inevitable future growth of Sharbot Lake and a sound plan that is environmentally-friendly was presented. Some questioned the possibility of pollution to the lake. To these questioners, I propose that if they were truly, seriously concerned, they would be petitioning to check every island and waterfront property for any signs of polluting substances presently contaminating our lake. The self-contained, non-polluting, high technology sewage treatment system proposed by the developer was to have a professionally paid overseer to make sure the system operated correctly, and to repair any problems that may occur. How many of the questioners have that service for their own septic systems?

A questioner wanted to know if the new residents would have motorized boats. If the concern is about more boats on our lake, I would suggest that a law be enacted that would stop all non-resident anglers and boaters from using Sharbot Lake. Only waterfront property owners would be allowed to have boats on Sharbot Lake. Let's get tough on those anglers and leisure boaters who brought Zebra Mussels to Sharbot Lake.

Prior to the developer purchasing the property in question, the developer met with the township to request what was required of him to proceed with a zone change. Several items were listed and every item was complied with to the “letter”. The understanding was, when all items were completed, the Zone change would go to a public meeting with Council. There, the people spoke - the loud minority of Sharbot Lake - for if you were in favour of an attractive, inviting, non-polluting, well-planned, and keeping with the planned growth of Sharbot Lake, you would probably not attend this meeting.

Am I in favour of the development? Yes! Will the development be good for the hamlet of Sharbot Lake? Yes! Would the development pollute Sharbot Lake? No! Real research - not gut-reaction and hearsay, will lead to results that benefit the inevitable growth in Sharbot Lake.

The medical centre is presently being expanded because of the anticipated increase in population of Central Frontenac. Perhaps one should ask the people who made the decision about this expansion the reasons for this undertaking. Could it possibly reflect the inevitable growth of Sharbot Lake?

Larry Chiarot

Now that’s Commitment!This is a story that needs to be told – it is about the commitment of a group of volunteer firefighters. Remember Saturday night, March 5 and the big snow storm? It was around 9:10 PM.

The ambulance service was requesting medical assistance from the Clarendon-Miller Fire Department to aid a person in medical stress somewhere in a cabin on a lake off the Mountain Road north of Plevna. Not an unusual event in our part of the country except it involved the use of skidoos, ATVs and sled equipment to get to the patient and transport him to a spot the ambulance could get to. The additional complications of blinding snow, wind and impassible roads just added spice to the scenario.

As the story goes, Ompah station volunteers were busy getting ready to respond, because whenever the emergency tone goes off for our sister station in Clarendon-Miller we expect to be called out as well. Sure enough, at 9:15PM Emergency Services requested that Ompah station respond to assist with the rescue sled, ATV, trailer and 4X4 pickup truck to aid in getting to the patient. Eight Ompah volunteers responded to the fire hall and a parade of private trucks, emergency vehicles, ATVs and sleds on trailers rolled through 13km of blinding snowstorm to Plevna.

We knew nothing about the wilderness area we were entering, the storm was deadly and we had to worry not only about finding, aiding and rescuing the patient, but about the health and safety of eight volunteers spread out in this unknown dangerous environment. The process included setting up stations with trucks and vehicles along the route to control rescuer and communications traffic, getting to a specified address 8km up the wilderness road, following a trail path 2km by ATV to a lake, crossing the unfamiliar lake about 1km in the dark with its deep snow and top water, finding the patient, the reverse journey by transporting him by ATV back to the Mountain Road, moving him and an EMS attendant by private pick up truck back to Road 509 where the ambulance had decided to wait in the safety of the village.

By the time we got back to Ompah and unloaded, it was 1:30 am

So, why do I tell this story? This is just another example of the dedication and commitment of Volunteer Fire Fighters. Every township and town has them and Ompah Volunteers are no better than any of the others. But there is another more important reason and that is the attitude of some members of our North Frontenac Township council.

By letter, Ompah volunteers suggested politely that action could be taken towards a promised new fire hall and consideration for the purchase much needed equipment. Township’s response was “What commitment are the volunteers willing to make if we build a new fire hall?” From my personal point of view and my twenty-nine years of volunteering, Ompah Volunteers don’t make any commitments to Township Council. Our commitment is to serve the community and our citizens who depend on us. We make this commitment 24 hours a day every day of the year. When the emergency tone goes off, Township Council doesn’t look to the police, the ambulance service or to their paid employees to help.

The Fire Department is the first to be summoned, first to respond, first on scene, first to give emergency help and it costs Township Council literally nothing.

What commitment? The story above is an example of our commitment. Council’s commitment should at least include some appreciation for what we do. It should include a safe building and working environment. It should include certified safe and dependable trucks and equipment so we can continue offering this free, volunteer service.

Again from my personal point of view, the Ompah Volunteers have shown you theirs! Where is yours?

Leo Ladouceur

Property Owner Responds Re: Cross Lake Rd

I am writing this letter to address the dialogue that has been going on publicly concerning my property and the township property. Because of all the controversy I have spoken to people at the Municipal Control Office in Kingston. They have assured me that if the township owns a designated roadway that is not passable because of poor maintenance it cannot steal my property just for the purpose of saving money; in fact, under the circumstance the township does not even have the right to expropriate. I have offered to sell my property in its entirety but township officials have rejected that idea. I have spoken to lawyers who are quite familiar with the situation and they have advised me that the people who are causing all this kerfuffle would be doing me a great favour by taking this to court.

I want to explain just how this controversy got started because of the malicious gossip that has been circulating. One of my neighbours was using a small part of my property for parking for her customers, and I did not mind that at all, however one day these people erected a barricade on my property to prevent my son from having access to that area and even scolded him because he was using my property to play on. I put up a barricade to prevent her from using my property; this aroused her anger and she came to my house on more than one occasion claiming squatters rights and threatening legal action. This caused me great concern, so I consulted Provincial Authorities for advice. I was told what my rights were and was also told what my responsibilities were.

I also became concerned that others would try to steal my land so they could have access to Cross Lake road so I also inquired about closing that passageway also. The Road Access Act of Ontario spells out in very plain English what I had to do to close a passageway across my property. I put up a notice in compliance with the Act. Anyone who wished to had the right to challenge me in court. If there were no legal challenges within 90 days, I then had the right to close that passageway to the public, which I did.

The township realised its responsibility and participated in opening up a section of the Old Addington road so that people could have access to Cross Lake road.

Myself, my family and some of my friends have been the target of harassment, threats, and malicious gossip. We have endured all we can.

Here are my comments and challenges: To the people along the Cross Lake road who claim they can not get around the corner that has been created, I suggest it is time to have your driving skills tested by MTO. And too you claimed that service trucks cannot get around that comer, but that is not true, because my neighbours have watched them do so.

To the township officials, I suggest it is time for you to decide whether it would smarter to spend tens of thousands of taxpayers’ dollars on lawyer, court and surveyor fees, or spend considerably less on opening the Old Addington road to connect Addington Road to Neal Road.

Here is my challenge to those of you on the Cross Lake road who are harassing me in your attempt to steal my property: go to the Township and work something out so that the people responsible will create proper access for you. Your other choice would be to take this matter to the courts.

If we end up m the courts I will be asking the judge to entertain the idea of opening the Old Addington road and closing that section of the Oliver road that presently spans my property. I will also be asking the courts that those people living along the Cross Lake Road prove that their residency is legal by presenting proof of permits for all structures and also proof of occupancy permits as well as confirming that all wells and septic systems have been properly inspected by a provincial inspector. For those of you who have been following this story as it evolved I would like you to keep in mind the amount of persecution that has been put upon us as a family and the distress it has caused us. There have been many lies and innuendoes circulated and we would like that to stop.

For those of you who have listened to the malicious gossip and rumours circulating around the community and believed them, and have passed judgement on me because of it, I say, "I hope someday you have to endure like lies about you”.

For those of you who have been spreading this malicious gossip and those untrue rumours, I say, "not one of you have had the courage or the decency to come and confront me face to face". For those of you who have causedTeresa so much stress while she was dealing with serious health problems I say, “Shame on you!”

To all of you people who like off road entertainment, exploration an fishing in hard to get at places, I would like to mention that the Cross Lake road (which is a public roadway) gives you access to hundreds of acres of unexplored crown land just waiting for your attention.

Brian Shier

Greetings from Christian Peacemaker Teams

A Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT)is maintaining a presence in the region as the conflict between the Algonquin First Nations and the Province of Ontario continues. At present, team members include Joel Klassen, Toronto; Rosemary Milazzo, New York; and John Funk, Armstrong, B.C. Local residents Carolyn and John Hudson of Snow Road Station recently trained with and joined CPT, and are working closely with the team.

CPT, an ecumenical organization, sends violence reduction teams to conflict areas in order to foster right relations through peaceful non-violent action and dialogue. CPT is currently fielding teams in Colombia, Palestine, Iraq, the U.S./Mexican borderlands and Sharbot Lake.

The Ardoch Algonquin and Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations invited the team to the area. We thank them for their invitation. CPT has worked with various First Nations communities across Canada who have been subject to violence as they exercise their rights. The team recognizes the Algonquins’ inherent right and responsibility to protect their traditional territory from uranium mining while they pursue their legal land claim with the Ontario and federal governments.

The province’s failure to abide by Supreme Court rulings to “consult [and] accommodate” First Nations’ interests prior to development of unceded aboriginal land causes us deep concern. Ontario is missing an historical opportunity to negotiate in good faith, and thus renew its relationship with the Algonquins. It plays fast and loose with the highest law of Canada, and meanwhile provincial courts condemn those who invoke that law.

On the other hand, at the community level, we are profoundly encouraged by the collaboration of Algonquins and non-Algonquins to protect the land so essential for Algonquin identity and environmental integrity. The level of cooperation here is far beyond what we have observed in other areas of conflict in Canada. We have heard that the donated food brought to the Robertsville site filled several rooms after the autumn events! We wish to thank Reverend Patsy Henry for graciously making her residence at the Centenary Pastoral Charge United Church manse available as a home base for us. We very much appreciate Patsy’s generosity. We have felt welcomed by people with diverse perspectives on the issues facing the community.

The commitment to disciplined, persistent non-violence displayed by First Nations’ leaders and communities, and by settlers, inspires us. The demanding path they have taken is challenging and often frustrating. We sense a hopeful vision guiding it, a vision that helps assume the difficult responsibilities.

As we come to know different people in the community, we have come to understand that many are experiencing pain. We look forward to becoming better acquainted with people here, and hold everyone in our hearts and prayers. We know a peaceful resolution with justice is within the grasp of all people of goodwill.

For more information, see www.cpt.org, or call 613-331-0969. We welcome all visitors to the manse, located on Elizabeth St. in Sharbot Lake, across from the Freshmart.

Oct 9/08 - Letters

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Letters -October 9,2008 Letters: October 9

Anybody But..., Jerry Ackerman

Yes, to Arts Funding, John Pariselli

Please Return My Toy

Anybody But...

I find this election quite different from the previous. For the 2006 election, the incumbent was given a five-point mantra to chant, with an emphasis on accountability.

This time any mantra will fail the accountability test. Holding the Harper government responsible for its actions is certain to lessen the willingness of the one in three electors that are primed to go to the polls on October 14to say "I want more of the same, no questions or comments."

That would imply a desire for a secretive, authoritarian regime that spends big money for helping the U.S. make war on the world and makes major cuts in programs Canadians really need. The extensive list includes food inspection, workplace skills training, adult literacy, child-care, women’s rights, Indian Affairs, the CBC, and even the National Crime Prevention Centre.

In place of the latter, Harper promises to "crack down on violent crime", while he ignores the all-too-evident financial crimes thatare threatening to destroy our livelihoods and disrupt permanently our communities.

The thousand jobs lost just in this riding, the invasion of private property by mining interests, the right of prairie farmers to market their own produce, the reneging re taxing income trusts, the cancellation of the Atlantic Accord giving the Maritimes rights to full resource royalties -- areeach matters that call for the reversal of policy decisions. Fat chance with a further CON government.

Danny Williams (premier of Newfoundland and Labrador) has it right: "Anybody But".

As for myself, I'm being civil and polite to Scott Reid --whom I have much more respect for thanI have for the party and the leader thathe represents. My party will be one of the three fewer presenters at the candidate forums.

Instead I will be reporting the global money meltdown, including whatis needed to prepare and respond.

Jerry Ackerman, Parham

Re: Ompah Library

It seems that the Ompah library is threatened with closure again. The North Frontenac News reported last week that North Frontenac Council has been offered a portable classroom by the Limestone District School Board for use as a library in Plevna. Two staff from the Kingston library made a report to their Board recommending this as an opportunity to finally close the Ompah branch, centralizing things in Plevna. Hold on a minute. We see things a little differently from Ompah. There is an Ompah Library Expansion Committe which started 18 months ago. We are in fact active library users here, and we came up with a plan to build a larger facility in place of the existing 200 square foot building. We talked to the community and got a petition. We made plans and looked at ways of coming up with the $70,000 or so to build it. We took the petition and our plans to a Council meeting in March 2007, then to a library Board meeting in Kingston . Our municipal government told us we had a good argument and that we’d get a larger library as soon as plans for the future of the community centre/firehall building were clear. That would be in a few months. The library Board listened politely and made no promises. The fact is that a single library in Plevna would not be good for Ompah users. We generally travel in the Perth or Kingston directions when leaving the community, so travelling through Plevna does not work for us. The KFPL Board seems to have a vision for it’s rural library system still dictated by the “consultant’s report” that was so contentious a few years ago. We will actively work to ensure that the village of Ompah continues to have a busy library. John Inglis

Please Return My Toy

I am a big girl. I am 3 years old, but I don't write very good, so my friend is helping me to write to you. He said that when you have trouble, sometimes the newspaper can help you out. Well, newspaper, I have a trouble!

My mommie saved up a lots and lots of money so she could buy me a real Dora the Explorer Jeep that a kid can really drive! It was really, really pretty, like red, with yellow bars on it, so you can't get hurt so much? And you know what? It had my big long skippin' rope in it too ! I left it in my gramma's yard, 'cause that's where I can drive it, cause I can't play near the road!

Well. Guess what? When all our family was gone, and there were no big cars in the yard, someone came right into our yard and stole my jeep!

I really, really miss my jeep. Newspaper, please see if you can find my jeep for me. Thank you very, very much. My friend Ray Fletcher wrote this for me.

(If anyone out there has the jeep, or any information about it, please return/help return the jeep, absolutely no questions asked. Or call 613-279-1113 ASAP - help a little girl feel better)

Letters - August 7, 2008

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Letters - August 7,2008 Letters: August 7

Bravo Omap Fire Department, Jen Robertson

Please Return Them, the Taylor Family

Bravo Ompah Fire Dept.

Recognition must be expressed to the Ompah Volunteer Fire Department for the renovation they have carried out on the Ompah Public Beach. The beach was cleaned up, a new load of sand was deposited and two new benches and one beautiful, large, octagonal table were donated and made by Jack Chamberlain and Wayne Southward. It is nice to know that we have caring people in this community. I am sure that the community and summer people who use this beach appreciate the Firemen’s effort. Maybe now "The Council" can find it in their budget to provide a waste disposal bin and delegate one of their hired summer students to be responsible for emptying it. Surely no-one living in the community could object to this kind gesture. Another first for Ompah!

Jen Robertson

Please Return Them

To the person or persons who removed our solar Hummingbird lights from the graves of our loved ones at the Harrowsmith Cemetery WOULD YOU PLEASE RETURN THEM. We really can't imagine why you would do such a horrible act.

Someday something tragic may happen to one of your loved ones and then you will truly understand just what a hurtful thing you did to a grieving family.

It is not the cost but the sentiment so just please RETURN THEM.

The Taylor family.

Letters - August 7, 2008

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Letters - August 7,2008 Letters: August 7

Bravo Omap Fire Department, Jen Robertson

Please Return Them, the Taylor Family

Bravo Ompah Fire Dept.

Recognition must be expressed to the Ompah Volunteer Fire Department for the renovation they have carried out on the Ompah Public Beach. The beach was cleaned up, a new load of sand was deposited and two new benches and one beautiful, large, octagonal table were donated and made by Jack Chamberlain and Wayne Southward. It is nice to know that we have caring people in this community. I am sure that the community and summer people who use this beach appreciate the Firemen’s effort. Maybe now "The Council" can find it in their budget to provide a waste disposal bin and delegate one of their hired summer students to be responsible for emptying it. Surely no-one living in the community could object to this kind gesture. Another first for Ompah!

Jen Robertson

Please Return Them

To the person or persons who removed our solar Hummingbird lights from the graves of our loved ones at the Harrowsmith Cemetery WOULD YOU PLEASE RETURN THEM. We really can't imagine why you would do such a horrible act.

Someday something tragic may happen to one of your loved ones and then you will truly understand just what a hurtful thing you did to a grieving family.

It is not the cost but the sentiment so just please RETURN THEM.

The Taylor family.

Nov 6/08 - Library Board Comes to NF

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Feature Article - November 6, 2008 Library Board comes to North FrontenacBy Jeff Green

The Board of Directors of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) ordered the Plevna branch closed over 18 months ago, citing health and safety concerns over a mould problem in the Clar-Mill hall, where the branch has been located for many years.

Since then the township has taken measures to improve the air quality in the hall, but a persistent drainage problem that cannot be fixed has led the township to conclude that the hall must be replaced. The latest plan for the library calls for the use of a portable classroom that has been offered by the Limestone District School Board.

The KFPL is run as a partnership; the local townships are responsible for the facilities, and the library board, which is funded through tax levies in the city of Kingston (87%) and Frontenac County (13%), are responsible for providing books, staffing the branches, and providing an online search and reservation service.

During the time the Plevna branch has been closed a series of letters have gone back and forth between the township and the library staff, which have at times fostered antagonism.

This came to a head last month, when a library staff report to the library board called for the board to consider that since the portable library would be larger than the combined size of the Plevna and Ompah branches, the two could be combined.

The motion resulting from this report was ultimately deferred at a meeting of the library board. Last week, a sizable delegation from the library came to a meeting of North Frontenac Council in Snow Road. The delegation included the two rural library board members, Wilma Kenny (Sydenham) and Ralph Gatfield (Sharbot Lake), County Council rep Jim Vanden Hoek, along with Board Chair Claudette Bradshaw (a Kingston city councilor) and Chief Librarian Deborah Defoe. The goal was, seemingly, to clear the political air.

“We have had difficulties with our service to the north,” said Claudette Bradshaw, “I guess we are here to listen.”

“The current situation came about when a portable classroom became available to us,” said North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire. “The fly in the ointment is a consultant’s report recommendation that said the two libraries should be combined. It was a very emotional issue at the time and it’s the same way today. This community has been struggling to keep going and will fight to keep what it has.”

Deputy Mayor Jim Beam, who sent an angry letter to the library board when he learned that closing the Ompah branch had been raised as a possibility, said “The idea of serving two communities that are 20 km apart with one library is ludicrous. The Ompah library is small and inadequate in its current state, but improving it is tied with another issue. If there is extra space in the portable it will be employed for another community use, not to replace the Ompah library.”

Beam also pointed out that a decision to bring the portable up to Plevna has not yet been taken, and although it is being offered for free, the cost of moving it, outfitting it, supplying it with hyrdro and perhaps putting in a washroom could be up to $20,000.

“Until we know the building is coming, there is not much the library can do,” said Wilma Kenny, vice-chair of the library board.

“You'll have to bear with us a little longer, until we do our budget for 2009,” said Councilor Fred Perry.

To underline the point that North Frontenac will oppose any plan that calls for the closure of any of its libraries, Ron Maguire said, in closing, “It goes even deeper. It is a matter of preserving culture. It’s like this, if schools go, it kills communities; I would suggest that the library isn’t far behind that rationale.”

“We appreciate from what we are hearing that this is still high on everybody’s priority list,” replied Claudette Bradshaw.

Back to HomeFeature Article - December 3, 2009 'Tis the season: Christmas Parades

Christmas parades in Ompah/Plevna (above, photo: Kaitlyn Balogh), Kaladar and Sydenham took place under sunny skies las Saturday. Hopefully this saturday will be bright and storm free for the Denbigh, Northbrook, Harrowsmith and Sharbot Lake parades.Kaladar

Top Left: "Kaladar Majorettes" Top Right Northbrook Legion Left: SantaPhotos: Kaitlyn Balogh

Ompah

Photos: Kaitlyn BaloghSydenham

Sydenham parade. Photos: Wilma Kenny

Back to HomeFeature Article - December 3, 2009Ompah athlete honouredBy Linda Rush

Ompah athlete Stan Seitz has been chosen as the Ontario Masters 2009 Athlete of the year in the jump division. Stan entered a number of competitions this year, competing in high jump and pole vault. He placed first in his age group in all indoor and outdoor meets in Ontario in the high jump, and placed first in most of them in the pole vault. In February Stan broke the 32-year-old Canadian record in the high jump. In the pole vault, while he didn’t break the Canadian record this year, he did challenge it twice, and hopes, with a newly purchased vault pole, to break that record next year.

These track events are fairly new for Stan, at least in the last few decades, when Stan has concentrated on long distance running. He has competed in many races, including marathons, and is a well-known sight in the Ompah area, as he continues to train on the roads almost every day.

Stan and his wife Marily will be in Toronto this weekend to receive his award at the Ontario Masters Awards Banquet. Not a bad achievement for a grandfather!

Not since the Ompah Stomp weekends in the heydays of the ‘80s has this little hamlet in North Frontenac seen such a successful event. Starting around 8 A.M. on September 26 the streams of pickup trucks, trailers and ATVs started to pour in for the start of what participants say is the best ATV run in Ontario.

The Ompah Volunteer Fire Department sponsors this event in both the spring and the fall. In the spring ATV enthusiasts experience the somewhat muddy and challenging trails of the rocky north, while the main fall features are the gorgeous fall colours and beautiful sunny weather the organizers always seem to arrange for the day.

Last Saturday 300 ATVs took part, each traveling over 67 km. A trail lunch was available in the bush and riders were seen ignoring their homemade sandwiches for a hot dog, hamburg and a cold drink. Aside from the odd breakdown or two, the best outcome was that the run was accident free – no one got hurt and no one got lost. One notable observation was the number of young people who rode this year.

To cap off the day a roast beef supper was served to everyone, followed by the distribution of 50 very nice door prizes and over $1000 in major prizes which were earned through a draw of tokens earned at check points along the way.

I have left the term “amazing” out of this article because the real “amazing” part of this whole story is the support the whole community contributes to this event twice a year. The fire department volunteers are the real sponsors but the key to success are the locals who pitch in and help. Consider the number of people needed for registration, traffic control, parking, cooking, providing food and desserts, washing dishes, facility set up before and tear down after, ride escorts, manning the trail lunch and yes, even a bar tender or two. This year even the school children got involved, manning an ATV wash station as the vehicles finished up the run, and raising over $400 for the school.

The whole concept of the ATV run for the Fire Department was initiated and is organized by Denis and Rose at the Double “S” Marina in Ompah. Virtually everyone in Ompah contributes in one way or another but many volunteers also come from Plevna, Ardoch and Snow Road. It was great to see the “summer people” – all the cottagers and part time residences who both came for the ride and helped out during the day. Finally a big thank you to sponsors for the donated prizes and to the landowners who allowed this years trail to run through their properties. The next run is Saturday April 24, 2010. There will be no duck hunting on that day and I don’t imagine the bear hunt will be back so ATVers might want to mark that day on the calendar.

Back to HomeFeature Article - August 27, 2009 Ompah firefighters thank the communityBy Linda Rush

The Ompah firefighters.

Last Thursday evening 60 guests, invited by the Ompah firefighters, sat down to a gourmet meal at the Ompah Community Centre. The firefighters had invited them in order to thank them for their support over the 30 or so years the fire department has been in existence in Ompah. The meal, prepared by Ompah caterers Dale and Sharon Southward, was delicious, beginning with a marinated asparagus appetizer, continuing with a choice of Salmon Wellington or Chicken Kiev and finishing with a crème de menthe parfait. Fire department members served the meal. The crowd was then entertained by magician Dave Saunders, assisted at times by his daughter Airie. Stan and Marily Seitz also sang a couple of songs, including their rendition of “Buffalo Boy”, which produced lots of laughter from the audience

Organizers of the evening explained that they started thinking about it during the recent ATV runs. They were reminded of how supportive community members have been to the fire department over the years. The ATV runs are now a major fundraiser for the fire department, and community support is very evident during them. They started thinking about all the people who should be thanked for their support, and realized that just about every “senior” in the area would be included. Accordingly, all seniors in the area were invited, and most of them accepted the invitation, though probably everyone thought that it is the community who should be thanking the firefighters, not the other way around. The mayor and several councillors also were happy to be invited.

Steve Dunham and Leo Ladouceur welcomed the guests and mentioned some of the contributions of time and ingenuity made by people present in the room. Leo reminded the crowd about some of the history of the department. It began in the 1970s as a result of some bush fires in the area, and grew entirely through the efforts of community volunteers. In the early days fund raising was a top priority, and the community hall was built in the late ’70s in order to hold fundraising events. Leo reminisced about the late Bill Kelford, who instituted the fire department toll during the Ompah Stomp. In just four years he raised the $45,000 needed to buy the first fire truck.

In recent years the township has taken over some of the responsibility for the fire department, and three new vehicles were recently purchased and proudly displayed after Thursday night’s dinner along with some other specialized equipment.

Thursday night was a very special celebration of community spirit, and the Ompah Volunteer Fire Department is a wonderful example of what a small community can achieve.