Kyle Gordon looks remarkably different than he did a year ago.

Sitting at a picnic table in a public park in Kingston on July 8, the owner of the Battersea Creekside Bar & Grill smiles when asked about his appearance.

“I’ve lost 14 pounds,” he said.

With his 40th birthday right around the corner, Kyle decided last October to make his health a priority.

“It was time for a life change,” acknowledges the friendly father of three about his state-of-mind nine months ago.

Determined to live a healthier life, Kyle started training last May for the Sydenham Try a Tri on July 9.

Enjoying the sunshine at a charity fundraiser the day before his triathlon, the Battersea man had all of the signs of an athlete nervous about their first competitive race.

“I just hope I can finish it,” he admits with a laugh.

Holding the leash of his dog as he watched his children mingle with the crowd, Kyle’s concern for his health extends beyond himself and his family. Since arriving in Battersea, he has made the community closer and stronger by organizing & supporting fundraisers for residents and social projects.

His latest project is to revitalize a playground beside the local ball diamond.

“I love doing events,” he says with enthusiasm about his role on a committee that is on the cusp of meeting its goal of $38,000 to replace outdated equipment in the park.

“It’s amazing,” says Kyle about the group’s progress over the past year. “We are less than $2,000 shy of reaching our goal and almost one year ahead of schedule.”

To help them reach their target, committee members are hosting a charity golf tournament on Aug. 25 at Inverary Golf Course. The tournament costs $90 to enter and includes 18 holes of golf, dinner, sleeve of golf balls and a prize valued at $20 or more. Each participant will also receive a tax receipt for $40.

The committee hopes to raise at least $4,500 at the event which will be used to improve the park.

Knowing a successful event will put the committee over its goal, Kyle knows what to do with any extra money.

“We want to add some trees and do some landscaping,” he explains about the purchased material that will accompany donated labour and equipment by Gilbert & Son Landscaping.

Happy to be so close to achieving the campaign goal, Kyle is clearly not content to rest on his laurels. Another fitness challenge in most likely in his future, as is another project to improve his community. His ambition and energy have their own momentum, sweeping down the village main street like a breath of fresh air.

“I also want to put in a splash pad as well,” he said.

To register (or donate a prize) for the golf tournament, please contact Kyle Gordon at 613-353-1102 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Growing up on a dairy farm taught Ruth Shannon discipline and a commitment to purpose.

A half century later, she’s using those qualities to make the world a better place.

“Being a dairy farmer gave me the opportunity to fit the volunteering I wanted to do, into my schedule,” explains Ruth about the volunteer work that helped earn her Volunteer of the Year in Storrington District.

Married with three children and two grandchildren, Ruth has been a volunteer with 4-H Ontario for 45 years.

“I love it,” she says with enthusiasm about her work to teach children skills on, and off, the farm. “In every person, there’s a need to find satisfaction and creativity in their jobs. Looking at those cows 365 days a year, there can be some creativity and there cannot. That’s the void that volunteering has filled for me. Let’s face it, your own family cannot meet all of your needs.”

Known as a hardworking dairy farmer who is devoted to her family and community, the 66-year-old was nominated by the Frontenac 4-H Association.

“For more than 40 years, the one volunteer opportunity that has been a constant in Ruth’s life is her commitment to the 4-H program,” confirms Ann Babcock, Secretary.

“Many  a child has spent Saturday morning in the Shannon kitchen, not only learning to cook and to sew, but to be responsible; help others; realize that few mistakes are made that cannot be corrected, if you only try.

“Ruth always has time to mentor new club leaders and to offer advice to more seasoned volunteers, sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience,” continues Ann from her home in Harrowsmith.

“She possesses all the qualities an excellent volunteer should: dependability, organization, dedication, responsibility and genuine kindness. The members of the Frontenac 4-H Association are very grateful Ruth has chosen to share these attributes with them. The residents of this community are most fortunate to have Ruth Shannon call South Frontenac home.”

Sitting beside the plaque and nomination letter on a warm evening in late June, Ruth smiles when she talks about the award.

“I am very honored and humbled that they would do this for me,” she says earnestly, “I really appreciate it.”

Asked what motivates her to take such an active role in her community, Ruth pauses slightly before replying in her no-nonsense manner. “I enjoy the children,” she says quietly. “I feel all children have the ability, if they are willing to work, to accomplish anything they want to. It’s the kids who have the ability to make something of themselves, and don’t, that ticks me off.”

Presented the prestigious award on June 20 by Councillor Ron Sleeth, Ruth was also thanked for her work with the Frontenac Federation of Agriculture, Frontenac Plowmen’s Association, Sandhill Presbyterian Church, Agriculture in the Classroom Program and local fundraisers.

“In recent years, Ruth’s energy has been directed towards fundraisers for Cheryl Dickson, a fellow dairy farmer who was seriously injured in a tragic farm accident,” explains Ann. “Ruth has also helped with McKenna’s Dream, the project of a young cancer survivor aimed at helping families like her own through the difficulties of a life threatening disease.”

Looking back on her life, Ruth seems pleased with her accomplishments with her family, farm and community. Asked about her future plans, she replies with a laugh.

“Retirement,” she says with conviction. “I want to do what I want, when I want. I’m quite happy here in South Frontenac. When I came here after I was married, it felt like coming home.”

Pat Evans lives in the village of Portland in North Leeds. She has Parkinson's disease and is an advocate for services and patient support groups in North Leeds and Lanark, and now Frontenac, Counties. She is one of the organisers of a SuperWalk fund raising event in Perth this coming September.

A volunteer with Parkinson Canada, she is reaching out to residents of Frontenac County because she has learned since moving to Portland a number of years ago Parkinson sufferers in rural communities face the challenge of isolation as they struggle with the disease.

“When I moved to Portland from Toronto I found there were main advantages to living in the country. Clean air, a better pace of life, and more, but access to services for Parkinson's is more difficult and rural isolation is a major issue,” she said when she visited the Frontenac News offices last month for an interview.

To combat isolation and help provide the kind of information people living with Parkinson’s require in order to live a good life while coping with the disease, Pat got involved with the support group in Perth, which meets monthly. The support group enables people to talk about what they face each day with others who are facing similar issues, and are open to care partners, friends and family as well.

Margaux Wolfe, who works for Parkinson Canada out of Ottawa, said “there are 22 support groups in Eastern Ontario, including one in Kingston. They are generally open to people living with Parkinson’s and care partners, friends and family. They are a safe place for people to  gather information, share daily challenges.  Groups also bring in guest speakers who come in to educate people living with Parkinson’s.

“It is also about hope,” said Pat Evans. “Our people are determined to do better and to feel better, and to gain strength. The support group is really, really important for that.”

Parkinson Canada describes Parkinson's Disease as a “chronic, degenerative brain disease, resulting from the loss of dopamine producing neurons. Dopamine controls a person’s motor functions (voluntary movements) such as walking, speech and handwriting. It also affects non-motor functions such as mood, attention and sleep. When the dopamine producing cells die, Parkinson symptoms appear.”

Parkinson's affects about 100,000 Canadians, and about 7 million people worldwide from all ethnic backgrounds. Since the average age of onset is 60, the number of sufferers is set to rise in the coming years, particularly in Eastern Ontario where the population is older than the rest of the country.

“The number of people who will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in Canada will double over the next 20 years,” said Alan Muir, of the Ottawa office of Parkinson Canada. “There are four pillars to what we do at Parkinson Canada, we fund research, provide support services,  education, and assist with advocacy efforts.”

The rate at which Parkinson’s progresses, as well as the symptoms people experience is unique to each individual, and individuals react in different ways to treatment as well.

There are a broad range of symptoms including: tremors or shaking, slowness in movement, muscle stiffness, balance problems, drooling, soft speech, stooped posture, sleep disturbances, changes in cognition, depression, change in ability to taste and smell, and hallucinations.

As part of the advocacy work that Parkinson Canada does, they have been advocating to the Local Health Integration Network for Southeast Ontario for more movement disorder specialists in local communities. There are a couple in Kingston, and efforts to bring one to Almonte and Carleton Place and through the Perth Hospital are ongoing.

Pat Evans is also working with a committee to bring the first Super Walk fund raiser to Conlon Farms in Perth on Saturday, September 9 at 9:30am. Information about the walk is available at donate.parkinson.ca/lanarknorthleeds or parkinsonsuperwalk.ca.

A walk is also scheduled for Kingston on the same day at 11am at Lake Ontario Park. To register or donate to the Kingston walk go to parkinsonsuperwalk.ca.

For information about the monthly support group in Perth contact Margaux Wolfe, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1-800-565-3000 ext.3425
For information about the monthly support group in Kingston contact Diane Newman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1-800-565-300 ext. 3315

As July 1,  2017 approaches,  thoughts go back 50 years to the Centennial Canada Day celebrations. For Terry Crawford of Railton, another day, 5 days after Canada Day ‘67, comes to mind.

On that day, July 5, 1967 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip made a short stop in Kingston as part of their Centennial tour of the country. The tour began on June 29th, and featured the Queen presiding over Canada Day in Ottawa, travel via the Royal Brittania to Montreal where the royal couple toured Expo‘67 and decided to take a mono-rail tour of the site, causing no end of nervousness among Expo ‘67 officials and the royal security team. A lesser known add-on that trip was a quick visit to Kngston on July 5, the last day of the trip. The Kingston visit is only commemorated through a postal first day cover from that day in Kingston, and all other accounts cover only the visits to Ottawa and Montreal.

But Terry Crawford remembers that stop in Kingston well. At the time he was a member of the Scouts, and he was working hard for the highest designation in scouting, the status as a Queen Scout.

“When it came to making a presentation to the Queen, who is the patron of scouting throughout the commonwealth, they wanted a girl scout, a brownie, a sea cadet and a boy scout to make a presentation to her. They did not want a Queen Scout to represent the boy scouts, but someone who was just below that level, and I fit the bill. I was asked if I would make the presentation,” Terry Crawford said, over the phone last week.

The presentation took place on the waterfront, by Murney Tower, where a large crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

“The whole area between King Street and the Lake was full of people. It was a massive crowd. We were told what to do, and it was all going to end with a picture with the Queen. I remember being a bit nervous. I remember shaking hands with Prince Philip and him saying something about ‘it’s a great country.’ He’s right, it is a great country.”

Terry remembers that day clearly, and he also has some mementos to remind him what the day was like. One of them is the photo that is reproduced with this article.

“I also still have the cap I was wearing that day,” he said

Terry lived Harrowsmith until 1974 and has lived in the Sydenham area since then. He made his career in the utility industry.

The Limestone District School Board gives out six Barry C. O’Connor awards for support staff on a yearly basis for the entire school district.

This year, two of the six awards went to Prince Charles Public School. Head Custodian Harold Smith was honoured with the Custodial and Maintenance award and School Advisory Council Chair Nicki Gowdy was honoured with the Volunteer award.

“I can’t ever remember this (two awards to the same school) this happening across the the system,” said Principal Peter Mouncey.

“We are tiny and we’re quiet but we do some great things here,” said Gowdy.

“And humble,” said Smith. “I got a lot more praise than I anticipated.

Ironically, Gowdy was one of the ones who nominated Smith.

His citation, which has both Mouncey’s and Gowdy’s name at the bottom, reads:

“Every day, Harold shows the kind of initiative that makes the school run smoothly at all levels. For Harold, his job is always about the people. Whether it is his daily tasks or small gestures of support, he takes care of our students and staff members in a personal way.”

Smith came to Prince Charles eight years ago when the head custodian position came open “and has thought of Prince Charles as ‘his school’ ever since.

Gowdy has been a parent volunteer at Prince Charles for 13 years.

Her citation’s assertion that she is “seldom one to take ‘no’ for an answer” is something local journalists can attest to.

“During her frequent visits to the school, she greets students by name and engages in personal conversations,” her citation said. “She has a disarming manner that brings a smile to everyone’s face and she is highly respected by the staff and parents.

“They appreciated her honesty and straightforward approach and they often say that nobody works harder than Nicki Gowdy does.”

Inverary lottery winners look forward to new earrings and shoes, and a truck.

“I was routinely checking my tickets with the ticket checker,” shared Constance Hughson while her and  Bob Alport were at the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up their over $110,000. “I came across one that caught my eye. I took it to the retailer to validate and told her I might faint if it’s how much I think it is,” she laughed.

When Constance arrived home she told her partner of more than 20 years, Bob, she had a secret. “I told him he had to be extra nice to me or I wasn’t going to tell him.”

“Winning the lottery was definitely a big surprise!” said Bob.

The pair has a few plans for their windfall. “My first priority is to become debt free, then maybe some earrings and shoes,” shared Constance. “I love my truck, but a new one would be nice,” added Bob.

“This money gives us the opportunity to dream. It offers freedom knowing that I have so many choices now,” concluded Constance.

The winning ticket was purchased at Glenburnie Convenience on Perth Road in Glenburnie.

Daryl Kennedy said that he has nothing against the K&P Trail, but as a cattle farmer working land that the trail bisects, he wants a fence put up to block access to some of his pasture land. And since the trail is located on former railway lands and is a continuous stretch, he feels that the Ontario Line Fences Act, as amended in 2006, stipulates that the current owner of the trail must put up a fence if he asks them to.

“What I am asking for is a fence along 1750 feet of pasture land, only on one side since that is all I need. I requested on April 6/2016 to Anne Marie Young, who was dealing with the trail for Frontenac County at the time, that the work be done. I was expecting it would be done last summer.”

Kennedy also asked that a gate on his property that had been severely damaged while the trail was being constructed, be repaired by the contractor working on the trail. He also wants the county to pay for some of the work involved in lining up crossing gates on the trail near the north end of his property, for him to use as a cattle crossing. But none of that happened last summer, although Young remained in contact.

On July 19th, Young sent him and email, saying “Thanks Daryl … the act [Ontario Line Fences Act] also says the farmer must be the one to request and provide a Farm Registration Number …  This can happen...we just need to have the information as requested.” The next morning, Kenedy emailed back, providing his farm registration number.

On October 11th, Kennedy received another email from Young with an attached drawing marking off the section of land that required fencing.

“Please take a look at the attached and verify that what I have marked is what you want fenced. I have estimated the length to be approximately 1750 feet. I want to make sure before I send it to the contractor,” said Young in the email.

Nothing happened last fall, and after Anne Marie Young retired in December, Kennedy has been corresponding with Frontenac County though Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Pender.

On March 15th Frontenac County Council met and discussed the matter. According to a letter to Kennedy from Pender after that meeting, the council, based on a legal opinion, now feels it is only responsible for half the cost of the fence.
They took this position because even though the Line Fences Act says that the owner of an uninterrupted section of former rail line that is purchased from a railway company is subject to pay 100% of fencing costs for farmland that abuts the fence, the county did not purchase the former rail line from a railway company. CP rail sold the line to Bell Canada, and the county purchased it from Bell Canada, which is not a railway.  This new position is being taken by the county on the basis of a legal opinion from the county solicitor, Pender said, in a letter to Daryl Kennedy on March 16/2017.

The key item in the letter is item 2, which reads, “where a land owner provides proof of farming activities and where trail lands were purchased from a person or entity other than a railway company, that the county will be 50% responsible for the construction and maintenance of fencing along the property line, with the property owner having the choice of sharing equally in the construction and installation or the fence or having the county supply the fence.”

The letter concludes: We have confirmed with our solicitor that the trail lands adjacent to your property were purchased from Bell Canada, not a rail company and as such option #2 above is applicable ... I trust this clarifies the county’s position.”
Kennedy does not accept this. In his view, the obligation does not end with the first purchaser of a former rail line. His position is supported by the Christian Farmers Organization, with which his farm is registered. Kennedy has also been in touch with the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the body which over-sees municipal governments.

In a recent email, (June 15) Carol Church, Municipal Advisor MMAH, said she “would encourage the owner of the farming business to continue to bring his request for a fence to the County of Frontenac” and she attached the decision from a landmark court ruling in southwestern Ontario which ordered the municipality of Tilsonburgh to pay the full cost of a fence for a farm located on either side of a former rail-line which had been converted into a recreational trail.

“I talked just last night to Peter Sizov from the ministry, who said he has never heard of a case where the fact that a rail line had been sold twice was used as a reason not to pay for a fence,”  Daryl Kennedy told the News on Tuesday, June 20.

The News called Mr. Sizov’s office on Tuesday afternoon, but got his voice mail and did not hear back in time to confirm he had made the statement that Mr. Kennedy attributed to him.

In fact, however there is a precedence for Frontenac County to pay the full cost of a fence along the K&P trail, a recent one.

On July 20/2016, Council passed a motion authorising the construction of 850 feet of fence to separate the trail from farm property owned by Frank Goodfellow, at a cost of up to $10,000.

The motion came about as the result of a staff recommendation by Anne Marie Young that was submitted to council by CAO Pender himself.

It included the following explanation: “Fencing is a concern of some landowners. The costs involved in the installation or repair of fences along a right-of-way can be significant and fencing can be required for pasture and farmland registered with the Ontario Farm Business Registration. In the development of the Cataraqui Trail, the Cataraqui Regional Conservation Authority split the cost of fencing 50/50 with the landowner, supplying the materials while the landowner installed the fencing where required.”

But in the Goodfellow case, the cost was not split. The County paid for it.

When contacted on Tuesday evening (June 20) Frank Goodfellow said it took him three years to get the county to construct the fence, and “they did offer to pay half, but I held my ground since I had the Line Fences Act supporting my claim. Eventually they came through.” When asked, Goodfellow said that not once in the three years was the fact that the former rail line was purchased from Bell Canada raised as a reason for not doing the fencing.

“I own or rent quite a bit of farmland along the trail, near Godfrey and up by Tichborne as well, but I only asked for fencing where I pasture cattle, not along hay fields, even though I could according to the Act,” said Goodfellow

“I don’t want to go to court, but I think it is very clear the county, by the terms of the line fenced act, and their own actions in the past, need to pay for this fence,” said Darryl Kennedy, “I don’t want to add legal fees to all of this, but if I go to court I will certainly do that.”

The estimated cost of the Kennedy fence is about $19,000. A further three landowners, who are registered farmers, are located within the vicinity of the Kennedy farm.

Kennedy’s property is located about 5km north east from the point where the K&P crosses Road 38 at Cole Lake, 10 km from Tichborne. The section between Tichborne and Sharbot Lake is not county owned, and has required individual arrangements with numerous landowners.

Looking further north, the trail from Sharbot Lake to the township border is owned by Central Frontenac Township. The township purchased the former K&P lands directly from CP, and  has paid the full cost of fencing on several stretches of the trail, at significant cost.

The build out of the trail continues to be a complicated, and expensive process, and one way or another all the fencing issues between the county and farmers with land abutting the trail will need to be sorted out, at further expense, both Goodfellow and Kennedy said that the section of trail between Godfrey and Tichborne has turned out to be very popular among cyclists, hikers, and ATV’s since it was built.

When Doug Angle looks closely at a steam engine train, the mechanical parts look like a work of art.

Doug,  appreciates, like his family before him, the design, construction and operation of a train.

“My grandfather was a telegrapher for the Toronto, Hamilton, Buffalo Railway,” confirms the 59-year-old process improvement consultant from Sydenham, who is also the President of the Frontenac Society of Model Engineers (FSME)

“My father fired on steam engines in the 1950s.. He shovelled four tons of coal every day.”

Familiar with that hot and heavy work, Doug talks about his father’s accomplishments with pride.

“On a full-sized locomotive, it takes two people to keep it running,” he explains about the fireman (person who shovels coal) and engineer (person who operates the train). “To drive a locomotive, you need to know everything about how it works or you will find yourself sitting on a train wondering why it won’t go.”

Armed with this family history and his own interest in trains, Doug joined the FSME ten years ago.

“I wanted to take on something new,” says the friendly father of three.

“I think what you’ll find with model engineers, particularly with steam engines, you can see all of the mechanical parts working. What’s really neat is that our steam engines have all of the same parts as full-sized locomotives.”

18 members strong, the club owns a 1,200 ft track, locomotives and riding cars in a field next to the Battersea Baseball Diamond. The club started construction on the township property in 2011. It completed the elevated track in 2012 and the ground line in 2015.

Tucked away in a corner of the village that is not visible from the main road, the club is bringing itself front and centre this Saturday by hosting an Open House from 11 am to 3 pm.

“This is a great time to see our operation and have a ride on a train,” says Doug. “People can view, and enjoy, a variety of miniature live steam locomotives on display and in operation. We expect to be running on both tracks during the day. We’ll be giving rides on the larger gauge track.”

The president hopes the club exceeds the number of guests at their open house in 2016.

“Last year, we had about 500 people come. That may sound like a lot, but it pales in comparison to the 1,300 passengers we hauled at the Battersea Pumpkin Festival last year,” he said.

“The Pumpkin Festival was a lot of work and we were happy people came-out and shared their love of trains. A lot of people are surprised there are still steam engines burning coal; that they do what steam engines are supposed to do.”

The club is eager to share its love of trains.

“At this event, we have time to show people how the equipment works,” says the president. “In a sense, it’s a way of preserving our steam heritage. There aren’t a lot of full-sized steam locomotives operating anymore. We’re happy to show people that.”

To ride a miniature live steam locomotive for FREE this Saturday, travel into the Village of Battersea and turn off Battersea Road onto Doris Lane. The club is located in the field at the bottom of the hill on the right. To learn more about the club or this event, please contact Doug Angle at 613-376-3908 or visit www.fsme.ca

When words fail Chris Murphy, music speaks.

Resting between shows in early June, the popular musician responds with self-deprecation when asked about himself.

A resident of Frontenac County and rising star in Canada, his lack of ego is a refreshing change to the notoriously bad behaviour of other artists. Small talk doesn’t come as easily to him as the words of 1,000 songs he has memorized.

“I consider myself an introvert,” admits the friendly singer/song writer from Sydenham. “Being on stage allows me to be a bit more gregarious and charismatic than in real life.”

Tall and strong, Chris’ musical talent was recognized early.

At 20 years old, he won the Country Singing Showdown in Kingston.

Almost two decades later, his summer is booked solid by early spring and he’s touring across Canada with some of the biggest names in Canadian music in front of celebrities, dignitaries and world leaders. He has performed for the Governor General of Canada at the National Arts Centre and plays with Sean McCann, formerly of the Great Big Sea, and Abby Stewart, an up-and-coming country music singer from Kingston.

At 39 years old, Chris seems happy with the numbers of his life. He plays in five bands, plays one-dozen instruments and expects to perform 150 shows this year.

“Music is something that has come naturally to me,” he says. “I love listening to music. I love playing it. It’s a form of expression. I’ve written songs that are an intimate form of expression. Even playing other people’s songs gives me a good feeling, trying to make them sound as good as I can.”

Armed with a love of music from his family and a degree in musical education from Queen’s University, Chris took a leap of faith and followed his dream to sing. It was a risk that paid off.

An experienced performer of Celtic and East Coast music, he has bookings from British Columbia to Newfoundland this year.

“I went to Newfoundland in 2000 and I just fell in love with the people, music, area, culture and food,” he says about his repeated performances there.

This summer, he estimates he will only be home for five days in August due to bookings around the country.

“I’ve always loved music. It’s sort of my passion,” he notes, when asked about his dreams. “Being able to do what you love is kind of the goal. One of the things I wanted to do was to travel the country and get paid to do so.”

Married for 13 years with two young daughters, Chris smiles when he talks about the good, the bad and the ugly side of show business.

“I often joke - I play for free, but I get paid for setting-up the sound equipment and lugging it around,” he said.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand what is involved in what we do,” he said about performing late into the night at bars where a performer is part of the atmosphere, or in the comfort of a concert hall where a performer is the main attraction.

Smiling as he recalls recent bar gigs, he notes, “There’s times you feel like a wall hanging or a fern. But often you know that going into a show.”

“Concert halls are the best performances for the soul,” he adds.

Often found playing sports when he’s not performing, Chris doesn’t stray far from his guitar in his spare time.

“When I’m not playing or being a dad, I enjoy sports,” he says about his pastime. “I would also consider playing music my fun. I do a lot of playing at home. It’s something I don’t get sick of.”

In recognition of Canada’s 150th birthday this year, Chris Murphy will be performing Canadian songs at Inverary United Church at 7 pm on June 25. This evening performance includes free parking, refreshments and freewill offering. Everyone welcome!

“This is the 18th year South Frontenac has had volunteers of the year,” said master of ceremonies Mike Howe preceding Tuesday night’s regular Council meeting in Sydenham. “The first time, in June of 1999, it was a way to do something together as a township after amalgamation.

“Now there are 65 names on the wall.”

Coun. John McDougall introduced Judy Conway as one of four honorees on the evening.

“Retired from teaching and an educational assistant, Judy is very keen on the development and interest of students and due to her interaction with kids, they are always willing to help her out,” he said.

And through the years, she’s needed that help after joining the Verona Community Association in 2002. She made numerous contributions to the yearly festivals in Verona, including managing the waste management system during the Cattail Festival and Verona Car Show, reducing waste going to the local dump and providing public education about the benefits of recycling.

“That’s not a glamourous position,” McDougall said.

She’s also a director of the Verona Lions Club and in charge of maintaining the Hall kitchen.

“I share this (award) with every member of the community who has leant their hearts and hands to make our community a home,” Conway said.

Besides being a wife and mother of two and a nurse practitioner in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kingston General Hospital, Lynn Newton has found the time to be president of the Frontenac Fury Girls’ Hockey Association for the past 10 years, said Coun. Ross Sutherland.

“She recently created a partnership with the Frontenac Flyers Minor Hockey Association to coordinate development opportunities for our entire hockey community, once again creating a support environment for young players to develop a love for hockey and embrace a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

“My husband and I have had many opportunities to move to larger centres,” Newton said. “But we much prefer to live here and pay it forward.”

Ruth Shannon has made numerous contributions to the agricultural community in South Frontenac, including fundraising for a fellow dairy farmer seriously injured in a farm accident and McKenna’s Dream, the project of a young cancer survivor aimed at helping families like her own through the difficulties of a life threatening disease, said Coun. Ron Sleeth.

“But it has been her volunteer contributions to the 4H program for 40 years that have been a constant in her life,” he said. “I know, because she’s my sister-in-law and many’s the Saturday morning where I’ve been at her house listening as she’s not only taught children to cook and sew, but also how to be responsible, and to help others to realize that few mistakes that are made that cannot be corrected if you only try.”

Shannon has filled many positions in 4h, including being on the executive at the regional and provincial levels and organizing the Annual Pork Barbecue.

Roseanne Gandl Black has been involved with the Frontenac Soccer Association since 2009, becoming the club’s treasurer in 2011.

“Her role as treasurer was only supposed to be two years but you know how these things can go in community organizations and she’s now in her 7th year as treasurer.”

Her role involves all aspects of such an organization’s finances but in soccer it also means assisting with parents and coaches questions, handing out jerseys and collecting equipment .“Rosanne is one of the first to volunteer when there is a need such as offering a short-term camp to create a more competitive soccer opportunity and has been instrumental in assisting with changing how team rosters are developed,” he said.

“I just want to encourage everyone that the next time someone asks for volunteers to raise their hand,” Gandl Black said.

Mayor Ron Vandewal thanked the volunteers for their contributions pointing out the Township motto “Our Strength is our Community.”

“Everywhere you look, somebody is making the community and workload easier for everybody,”