(with a file from Jeff Green)

MPP Randy Hillier met with North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins on Sunday morning in Cloyne to discuss future economic development possibilities for North Frontenac and Addington-Highlands townships. They were joined by a small group of local entrepreneurs and business owners to start sketching out ideas on how both municipalities could benefit from, and grow, with some new investments in the area. The group had a two-hour discussion regarding options for stimulating the local economy and these ideas included an 80-room wilderness lodge and conference centre, a wood-pellet manufacturing facility, and a craft brewery.

Ashby Lake cottage-neighbours and Ottawa entrepreneurs Scott Annan and Dan Carruthers were two of those in attendance at Sunday's meeting. They're hopeful that they can capitalize on the recent community engagement they've seen since Nextera, an American-owned company, made a proposal to build over 100 turbines in North Frontenac and Addington-Highlands.

“One of the positives to come from this crisis is that it has people really talking with each other; engaging in real issues and taking a genuine interest in their community,” Carruthers said. “Let's turn this crucible moment into a catalyst for real, long-term development for the region by engaging connected representatives from the provincial, municipal, entrepreneurial and investment communities.”

Part of the goal last Sunday was to present an alternative option to the Addington-Highlands council to “replace the allure of wind turbines.”

“Your decision on this topic will be your legacy and residents of Addington-Highlands will bear the consequences of your decision for the next 20 years...and likely for many generations beyond,” Annan said in a note to the Council.

“It is time for you to make the right, albeit difficult, decision,” Annan said. “It is time for you to stand up and oppose clandestine partnerships. It is time for you to stop the division of residents, and instead to unite them through a common goal.”

Annan wrote to Council and local MPs hoping they could “work together to create a plan that will include a new lakefront resort and conference centre to generate dozens of long-term permanent jobs.”

The group feels that Bon Echo being open all year around would be an important ingredient to their success. They picture a four-season environment with a trail network that could be used for cross-country skiing and hiking. They envision huts built along the trails for snowmobilers, hikers, and skiers to use, like the popular ones that exist in Gatineau Park. They also suggested BBQ competitions, small concerts, wine and food events, and mountain bike races as possible events to attract people to the lodge and area.

“We could be the next Kawarthas,” Carruthers said. “There's an alignment happening right now.”

He imagines local organic gardening and livestock incorporated into cooking workshops with guest chefs, local craft beers, and outdoor activities in both summer and winter.

Carruthers is in the process of procuring investors for the project and currently had around $5-million committed to the project when this paper went to press.

“Let us define our own 'vibrancy fund'...one that is inclusive and homemade,” Annan suggested.

The Group suggested that green energy could be incorporated into their approach to the lodge but are against the use of wind turbines there as they are detrimental to their idea of promoting the area as being naturally beautiful.

Addington Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg and the rest of Addington Council were invited to the information session on Sunday but only Tony Fritsch replied, but wasn't able to attend.

When contacted, Reeve Hogg said that he did not know about the meeting until he checked his email on Monday morning. He thinks the email must have come in late on Friday afternoon.

“I'm not sure I would have attended if I had known, because I would need to canvass council if I was attending as a representative of Council. I don't know what was discussed at the meeting,” he said, “but I do feel whoever did attend would be well served by bringing their proposals to a meeting of AHEAD, our economic development committee. They have been meeting on a monthly basis for many years and are always looking for new proposals, and new members.”

On June 10, NAEC was fortunate to welcome Tammy and Bernard Nelson to teach workshops. The workshops were attended by Mrs. Pelow’s Grade 6 class, Mr. Hill’s Grade 8 class, Mr. Pelow’s Restart class, Ms. Cuddy’s Grade 2 class, and Mr. Rewbotham’s Grade 5 class.

Prior to the workshops, Tammy and Bernard set up a sacred altar, with a buffalo rug, decorated buffalo skull, and various other sacred objects, including different coloured squares of material. Each workshop started with an opening prayer done in the Oji-Cree language. Bernard then explained the sacred pipe, and translated his prayer. Tammy explained the four clan animals Bernard works with, the four sacred medicines and their purpose, and the four directions.

Each student made a prayer tie. This consisted of a red square of felt, into which sacred tobacco was put, and the square was tied off with red wool, to create a little, sealed bag. Students were told to think of family members or friends for whom they would like prayers for healing or other concerns, while making the tie. Bernard and Tammy collected the prayer ties, and will take them to the Sundance Ceremony they are attending this summer to include them in the prayers that will be offered.

The Nelsons also provided drum teaching and finished the workshop with the students drumming, which was an activity the students clearly enjoyed, and then students were given the opportunity to ask questions.

Students and staff said they really enjoyed the workshops. The Grade 6 class was very engaged. Olivia Douglas said, “Something that I learned was that they pray for animals they kill, and that’s good.” Edison McGarvey agreed, saying, “I enjoyed learning about how they kill animals. First they pray and then they put tobacco on the ground and ask to take an animal’s life.” Diana Weichenthal remarked, “It was very interesting and I thought they did a good job describing their culture. It was a fun and very informative morning.” Jaydin Reid added, “I would love to do it again!” Grade 8 students were equally enthusiastic. “It was cool because the guy was a survivor of residential schools,” commented Alex McInnis. Kayla Newman said, “It was interesting to learn about their culture.”

As well as travelling the province, teaching people about First Nations culture, Tammy and Bernard host sweat lodges at their home in Inverary, and are traditional sundancers. Bernard is also an Elder at RMC, acting as a mentor for First Nations and Metis people at the college.

Taylor Salmond has been a quiet leader at North Addington Education Centre, but when things need doing the students and staff at the school know who to look to. She has used her skills in Volleyball to set up lunchtime mentoring sessions with elementary panel students in the school and ran clinics in her spare periods. She was the treasurer of the Student Council last year and president this year, and organised fundraisers, charity events and more. She is also an active community volunteer and her grades have been very high as well. She has maintained a 90% average over her entire high school career and won numerous proficiency awards.

Austin Fuller is a guitarist, an A student, a volunteer firefighter, and is good at fabrication. At NAEC he was a music teacher for younger students all through high school, has supervised summer students at Bon Echo, performed at the Denbigh Music Fest, and met his obligations to the Ward 1 fire department - all while attaining a Special Skills Major in Construction with an 86% overall average. This year he has been participating in a dual credit program in Automotive techniques at Loyalist, where he is planning to attend college next year in the Welding and Fabrication Program

Last year, Taylor Meeks won the award as the best all around student at Granite Ridge. He has also played varsity basketball, soccer, volleyball and track, and he won the coaches award for Basketball in 2014. He has coached in the Northern Area Basketball League for elementary-aged students, was one of the student guides when Granite Ridge was introduced to the community last year, and has been an important member of the Student Council for the last two years. His voice is known to the entire school community because he is one of the morning announcment team at Granite Ridge.

This painting is of Gene Brown and her grandmother, Christina Irvine, feeding chickens on the Pettifer Farm in Denbigh. In the background is the old log and stone milk house. Christina was a McGregor from Scotland. Her granddaughter, Gene, married Irv Brown. Gene Brown is a founding member of the Pioneer Club, which evolved into the Cloyne and District Historical Society, and co-author with Nadine Brumell of the popular book, The Oxen and the Axe.

The painting was done by Carol Brown, talented local artist and niece of Gene Brown. Carol painted this from a small photograph and captured every detail as noticeable in each log and stone in the milk house. The museum is the lucky recipient of this work. As well as donating the original, Carol created a series of numbered prints for sale as a fundraiser for the museum. This work is on display for all to enjoy. The museum will be part of Frontenac County’s “Open Doors” celebration this Sat. June 13 from 10am-4pm, and will be celebrating its season opening on Sat. June 20 from 11am to 4pm.

In the middle of the debate over the Denbigh wind turbine project, is an event that utilizes wind power for recreation. The intention of Sail Mazinaw is to get a great number of sails on Mazinaw Lake all at the same time. It is not a race. It is a flotilla, a cruise, a raid; an invitation to go sailing. The event is to be held on Saturday, July 18.

Dozens of cottagers have sailboats. Sail Mazinaw will be an opportunity for locals to rig and go sailing in company. Bon Echo Provincial Park is on the lake, and campers will be reminded to bring their dinghies or sailboards along for the weekend. Transient boaters are always welcome. Sailors are encouraged to bring crew, or to introduce someone new to the sport of sailing.

Mazinaw Lake is a beautiful sailing venue. Bon Echo Rock, with its pictographs and alpine climbers, is an escarpment that rises more than 100 meters above lake level. The rest of the lake is surrounded by citadels of bare rock that generate thermals and local shore breezes. The windiest time of the day is typically at 2pm. But the orientation and the shape of the lake means that it seldom generates a large swell or white caps. It is a fun sailing venue. There are a number of decent boat launches on the lake.

Sailors are invited to meet at Mazinaw Lake Resort for breakfast 8 – 10 on Saturday morning. The Friends Of Bon Echo will have the barbecue fired up in The Lagoon at Bon Echo Provincial Park from 10 until after 2. Go for a sail, share a burger with other sailors, then get back on the lake in time for the afternoon breeze. It’s a perfect day.

If you have a sailcraft, please join Sail Mazinaw on Saturday, July 18. More details can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SailMazinaw or you can e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Demonstrate that the wind is free to share and is owned by everybody.  

by Julie Druker

Members of the Land O'Lakes Quilters recently presented 16 beautiful hand-made quilts to Jan Easton. Easton is the national vice-president of Quilts of Valour – Canada, an organization whose mission is to ensure that Canadian Armed Forces military personnel and veterans are recognized for their service and commitment to the country by presenting them with quilts by quilters from all across the country

Some of the quilts included special “Hug in a Mug” quilts. For the price of $5 each, quilters purchase commemorative gift mugs containing the materials to construct single blocks for a quilt from Quilts of Valour. The blocks are collected and grouped, and the quilt is then finished off by an appointed volunteer.

Many other gorgeous quilts were created and donated to Quilts of Valour by individuals in the group, which has over 20 members. The quilts were at Pineview Free Methodist Church in Cloyne on May 26.

Quilts of Valour - Canada was started in 2006 in Edmonton, Alberta, when three soldiers recovering from serious injuries they suffered while serving in Afghanistan were each presented with a quilt. Since that time the organization has presented over 6000 quilts to Canadian military personnel who were either injured in the line of duty, or are recovering from post-duty stress, as well as to war veterans across the country.

Easton herself is a professional quilter who owns and operates Stonehouse Quilts in Plainfield, Ontario. She has presented hundreds of donated Quilts of Valour to Canadian military personnel and said that she has received hundreds of emails in return from the recipients, who all have been incredibly moved by them.

“These quilts are very special and mean a lot to the recipients. They are much appreciated simply for the fact that they have been put together by loving hands and are something that the recipients and their family members use and get comfort from every single day.”

Following the presentation to Easton, the quilters also enjoyed a “Trunk Show” presentation by Sue Fiddes, Pesident of the Heritage Quilters Guild in Napanee. Fiddes spoke of her long quilting journey, which started at the age of 18 when she made her first quilt. Fiddes brought 80 quilts with her to the presentation and said that she is a quilter who “loves to try everything” and who “thrives when teaching quilters and seeing their enthusiasm when they finish a project.” Fiddes showed some of her own creations, including a horse head quilt, a raw-edged applique piece that incorporates free form thread painting to create the horse’s mane.

For those who would like to see the Land O' Lakes Quilters' donations to Quilts of Valour, the quilts will be on display at the Trenton Valley Quilters’ Guild show, which will take place at the Community Centre in Brighton, Ontario on Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7.

By: Misti Harnden

On April 29th, 2015 North Addington Education Centre, a small, rural K-12 school in Cloyne, Ontario, held a Cuts for Cancer event. This event is currently ranked third for all Cuts for Cancer fundraisers online across Ontario.

Three students (Alexus Wagner, Selena Pelicos and Terri-Lynn Rosenblath) and three teachers (Melissa Randle, Krista Walker and Leanne Shepherd) had their hair cut, by local hairdresser Teri Woods.

In addition to the over $4000 collected for the hair cutting event, funds were raised by a silent auction, talent show and money jar campaign.

Event organizer Melissa Randle stated, “I am so proud of everyone involved in this fundraiser. I’m ecstatic that we were able to exceed our original $3000 goal.”

During the Viking Cuts for Cancer event over 3 feet of hair was cut to be donated. There was a tie for the money jar campaign winner. Tim Pelow and Josh Goodfellow shaved their legs, Edna Lessard begrudgingly wore a Toronto jersey and Leanne Shepherd ate a live worm. Although not the winners, Katie Ohlke got a makeover by a student, Candice Bovard will wear her hair in a Mohawk and Valerie Allan will take part in a pie in the face event.

To date, over $4700 has been raised for the Canadian Cancer Society. To sponsor this event, visit http://goo.gl/4WsMa8 (the link is currently still active).

by Valerie Allan

On April 23 NAEC hosted its annual Earth Day celebrations. The secondary EcoTeam organized the events for the day. Students from grades K-12 participated in a school yard and community cleanup throughout the day.

The secondary Leadership class also ran a colouring contest for the elementary classes. The secondary students had a hard time judging the artwork, but in the end, the following winners were announced: Spencer Bolduc, Madison Madigan, Sophia Borger, Alyssa Thompson, Briahana Wilson, Dominique Shorts, Ally Maschke, Jenni Miske, Amanda Clancy, Josie Heyman, and Rachel Cumming.

Students from the school also attended an Environmental Summit on April 22 which will give them information to bring back to the school and share. The EcoTeam has also been working hard on their renewal application for EcoSchool certification due at the end of April. NAEC has been a certified EcoSchool for the past six years and was the first gold certified school in the board.

Just in time for the clean-up, heavy snow began to fall. Melissa Randle (EcoTeam staff advisor) remarked, “I’m proud of the dedication I saw today with the Earth Day cleanup. Students braved the elements to ensure that our school grounds and community were free from garbage.”

by Valerie Allan

On April 24, the North Gym at NAEC was packed with contestants and spectators in the first National Archery in the Schools Tournament hosted by NAEC. Present were students, staff and parents from Granite Ridge Education Centre, Madawaska Valley District High School, and North Addington Education Centre. There were 32 participants in the Tournament, including NAEC students Devin Gagne-Baldacchin, Brittany Delyea, Madi Lemke, Greg Garey, William Cruickshank, Stephen Humphrey, Caleb Leoen, and Eric Chatson.

The tournament was part of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP), organized by Sarah Sproule. Ms. Sproule was certified as a NASP trainer and instructor this past August, and NAEC was one of the first ten schools in Ontario to be certified as a NASP school.

NAEC placed first overall, with a total of 1300 points out of a possible 1500. NAEC students placed as follows: Girls’ competition: Brittany Delyea – 1^st, Madi Lemke – 4^th. Boys’ competition: Greg Garey – 1^st, William Cruickshank – 2^nd, Stephen Humphrey - 3^rd, Caleb Leoen and Eric Chatson – 5^th (tie).

Next year, NAEC will be partaking in the provincial championships, and already has been invited to Madawaska Valley District High School for a tournament next school year.

The sponsor for NASP is the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters. The slogan of NASP is “Changing Lives one Arrow at a Time”.

by Valerie Allan

A small group of Grade 10 Art students took advantage of the bus taking students to the Science conference at Bayridge Secondary School; they hitched a ride to The Glass House on Sydenham Road, as part of an extension of the Art Curriculum. As well as enjoying making a piece of art, the students loved the pets at The Glass House – two very friendly cats and a lovely dog made the students feel right at home. The students completed a piece from scratch, starting with cutting out a pattern from paper, then cutting the glass, foiling it, soldering it, and adding a patina. This process usually takes about six hours, but the students managed it in less than four hours, by concentrating hard on their task.

The trip was made possible by The Glass House charging a reduced fee for their class, and a subsidy from the Artist’s Guild.