Feature Article - March 6, 2008

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Feature Article - March 6, 2008 Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department Family Appreciation NightBy Jule Koch Brison

John bolton, Fire Chief Casey Cuddy and Reeve Henry Hogg

“This evening is to show appreciation to all the people who regularly see their husbands or wives disappear during supper or in the middle of the night, and don’t know when they’re coming back,” said KBFD Fire Chief Casey Cuddy in opening an Appreciation Dinner for the families of the volunteer firefighters on March 2 at the Flinton Hall.

Cuddy stressed that without the support of their families, who are often left looking after the business, the kids, filling in at work or finishing up the jobs that that the firefighters have to drop to go on a call, the department could not be where it is today.

The Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department is a joint fire department serving both North Frontenac and Addington Highlands Townships. Casey Cuddy gave a brief history of the department from its beginnings in 1969, when a group of people who “hung around the Northbrook Hotel” started to hold meetings there about forming a volunteer fire department. John and Elaine Bolton were the owners of the hotel at the time, and John became the fire chief of the “Land o’ Lakes Fire Brigade” after it was formed in 1970.

With some creative fundraising, the brigade was able to purchase a 1940 Chev Fire Truck for $700. It was stored at Butson’s Garage. Still, the department needed $15,500 to build a fire hall, so Art Freeburn, John Huskson, and John Bolton each signed a personal guarantee for the loan to build the fire station.

Cuddy described some of the fundraising that took place, from raffling bottles of liquor to trail rides, dances – “Anything you can think of, they did it – it got so you couldn’t go to the gas station without buying a ticket,” he joked.

“Or the liquor store - or the hotel,” piped up some voices from the audience.

The Northbrook Fire Hall was built in 1972. The brigade became the Kaladar Fire Department in the 1980s and then the Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department in 1989. John Bolton was the backbone of the fire department through its various metamorphoses, mentoring and training the fire fighters, and tirelessly serving as fire chief from 1970 to 1999.

Cuddy said the calls that the department responds to have changed over the years. In the early years the calls were mostly for chimney and house fires; now there are more motor vehicle collision, medical and rescue calls.

Several service awards were presented at the dinner. Long service awards were presented: to Dean Salmond (25 years), Roger Perry (27 years), Richard Tryon (32 years), John Bolton (35 years), and posthumously to Bill Salmond (32 years). Bill died in the line of duty on August 5 last year.

Elaine Bolton received a plaque in appreciation of her many years of support of the fire department. John Bolton was also presented with a retirement gift and he received a standing ovation when it was presented.

John and Elaine’s daughter Cindy then gave the inside scoop on growing up in a firefighting family. She described the “unbelievable joy of the first crew when they saw that 1940 truck”.

She also described the first dispatching system. It consisted of five fire phones in five different homes – they were old rotary phones with the dials removed so no one would mistake them for ordinary phones. When the fire phone rang, everybody knew the routine, Cindy said. “If you were on the phone, you got off; if you were in the bathroom you got out, because Mom had to run to the phone to phone everybody and Dad had to run to the bathroom, which was the first preparation for firefighting”. As the Bolton children grew older they both participated in the call out list – once they were even given the authority to send the trucks out. Even after Cindy became a nurse, if there was an emergency while she was visiting at home, she was immediately pressed into service.

Cindy Bolton said that although her dad has retired, he still stays glued to the scanner, listening and wondering. “He is always thinking of all of you,” she concluded.

About 80 people enjoyed the excellent roast beef dinner, which was catered by the Flinton Community Club.

Casey Cuddy thanked all the families for their sacrifices, commitment and hard work in supporting their firefighting spouses and parents.

Out of the lime light but working just as hard is the support people for the fire fighters. They are often left looking after the family business, or the kids, filling in at work or finishing up that job that you left, to go on a call. Then there are all those phone calls and that pager going off at all times.

If it wasn’t for the donations, all the fundraising, and those people who made it all happen over the years, we would not be where we are today. Let’s take a moment to thank those who gave so much of themselves. You are what makes a community great.

He saw the department through

Fire Marshals long service – Roger Perry for 27 years, Sheila Perry, Dean Salmond 25 years, Bill Salmond 32 years, Richard Tryon 32 years, Elaine Bolton 29 years and John Bolton 35 year service bars.

Fire services Exemplary Service Medals went to Dean Salmond, Roger Perry, and Richard Tryon.

Retirement gift of a replica of an antique fire truck with “Land O Lakes FD” on it was presented to John Bolton. John was the first fire chief of the then Land o Lakes Fire Brigade started in 1970, which became the Kaladar fire department in the early 80’s and became the Kaladar/Barrie Fire Dept. in 1989. John remained Fire Chief and saw the department through to 1999 when he stepped down. He remained on the department until Jan. 2007.

A plaque was presented to Elaine Bolton for in appreciation of her years of support of the fire department. Elaine was the dispatcher for many years. She would take the fire call and start phoning the fire fighters to respond. She did this until the late 80’s when radios and pagers were put in place and Napanee fire Department was contracted to take the calls and dispatch the fire fighters. She often did secretarial work for the department and handled inquires when John wasn’t available.

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.

Feature Article - March 20, 2008

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Feature Article - March 20, 2008 New contempt charges laid in Robertsville disputeBy Jeff Green

Frank Morrison Speaking out against uranium, at a rally in front of Kingston's County Courthouse, March 18.

Just as old contempt of court charges were being withdrawn, new charges were being laid as the continuing Frontenac Ventures Court case took over the Frontenac County court house in Kingston for a one-day hearing on March 18.

The drama began the evening before when five people were served summonses by the OPP in their homes and ordered to appear in court.

The five people had all been on the roadside at Hwy. 509 on the previous day. One or two of them are alleged to have mounted what the lawyer for the OPP, Chris Diana, called a “small protest”, while others among them were trying to determine how far away from the Robertsville gate in each direction the 200 metre mark is.

A court injunction from September 27, 2007 prohibits certain activities, particularly impeding workers from Frontenac Ventures Corporation, within 200 metres of the gate at the Robertsville mine.

The five people include Sulyn Cedar, Sheila MacDonald, Oskar Graf, Beth Robertson, and Eileen Kinley.

Neal Smitheman, the lawyer for Frontenac Ventures, told the court that he had just heard about the charges on the morning of the hearing, and did not have any details. The OPP will forward the details to Mr. Smitheman and the five people will return to court on June 2 for a hearing.

Earlier in the day, charges against John Hudson and Frank Morrison, which stemmed from alleged breaches they had committed in September, were withdrawn by Frontenac Ventures Corporation. Charges against David Milne, a member of the Christian Peacemakers Team, were withdrawn as well, although in his case the company demanded that he enter into an undertaking not to commit any further activities at the Robertsville site. Milne had admitted to the court at a hearing last month that he had been at the site 13 times in September and early October, an admission the other two men had never made.

The company also did not seek fines against Shabot Obaadjiwaan Chief Doreen Davis and Elder Earl Badour, who had entered into undertakings to commit no further breaches back in February. However, the matter of court costs remains to be determined.

Of the original eight people charged in the case back in October 2007, seven have now had their charges withdrawn. The eighth, Bob Lovelace, is one month into a six-month jail sentence for contempt.

Judge Cunningham reiterated in court that Lovelace can end his incarceration at any time if he agrees to stay away from the mine site.

Chris Reid, the lawyer for Lovelace and other members of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, of which Lovelace is a former chief and spokesperson, filed an appeal late last week to the six-month sentence and $25,000 fine Lovelace is subject to, and to the fine of $15,000 against Ardoch Co-Chief Paula Sherman and $10,000 that the band itself has been fined.

Reid’s notice of appeal included nine items listed as Grounds for Appeal. Among them were assertions that: Judge Cunningham failed to consider mitigating factors; that the judge erred in “assuming that the principle of general deterrence could only be satisfied by the maximum sentencing;” and “that both the period of incarceration and the amount of fine are overly harsh in the circumstances.”

Christopher Reid has had a busy week. Six of his clients in another mining exploration dispute, this one centered on Big Trout Lake in Northwestern Ontario, received six-month sentences for contempt of court on Monday in Thunder Bay.

Before the hearing began at 2 pm, a rally was held outside the courthouse which drew around 200 people, and the court room was completely filled during the two-hour hearing.

Bob Lovelace had been expected in the court to face a second contempt charge stemming from incidents in early February, but it appears that no one informed the prison system that he was required, so that proceeding was postponed until June 2.

Earl Badour and Doreen Davis, also charged in relation to a road blocking incident in February, had their charges withdrawn.

Feature Article - April 10, 2008

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Feature Article -April 10, 2008 Getting Ready for 'The Wizard'by Susan Stopford

What does it take to put on a North Frontenac Little Theatre musical production the size of NFLT'S upcoming "The Wizard Of Oz"?

At NFLT's annual general meeting, about a year prior to the show going on, names of plays are suggested by various members and the play list is narrowed down as the members discuss what plays have gone before and what they are interested in doing next. A director is found who has the interest and ability to direct the play, in this case the multi-talented Brian Robertson, a familiar face on NFLT stage. Christina Wotherspoon is asked and thankfully agrees to be the musical director and John Pariselli brings his expertise to the role of producer.

With these key roles filled the play starts to take shape. Audition dates are set and advertised by the director and the producer obtains the rights to the play and orders the scripts and the musical scores. People start to volunteer or are asked to take on various jobs. Some people like to stick with a job they are familiar with and others do something different in every play. Each play consists of both those who have been involved with the theatre group for years and newcomers. All are welcome if they are able and willing to do the work.

The arduous task of stage-manager will once again go to Dawn Hansen and NFLT newcomer, Derek Redmond, who teaches film and media at Queen's, is running the lights. All the members of the NFLT community discuss which acting rolls they are or are not going to try out for and some even get their costumes ready in case they get the part!

Auditions finally arrive, early - December 2007 - and people pack the cafetorium of SLHS despite the weather. There is excitement in the air and the noise level is high. Everyone is nervous, knowing that tonight they are going to be asked to sing or read in front of a room full of people and some are perhaps a little worried as to whether they'll be given a much coveted role. Because the "Wizard Of Oz" has many children and teens in the cast the room has the added high energy of the young. Eventually everyone has been heard by Brian and Christina, some in groups and some individually. There's a lot of laughter and jokes and everyone goes home happy and hopeful that they'll get a part.

Two weeks later the decisions have been made! Emily Dickinson will be Dorothy. Paddy O'Conner has the part of the Lion, Dylan McConkey the Scarecrow and Normand Guntensperger will be the Tin man. The part of the wicked witch, which has been hotly contested, goes to Martina Field and the good witch will be Amelia Redmond. All of the other 55 or so roles have been filled and the play can proceed.

Now the director's work of organizing such a large group of people begins; setting deadlines for lines to be learnt, deciding on a look to the play from costumes to sets and props, finding a choreographer, discussing the lighting and trusting that people will show up at practice are but a few of the jobs that he must be sure get done before the show can go on. He is also busy working with the actors on stage, guiding them through the development of their characters and telling them where to stand and when and often how to move. Every step of the way involves a lot of discussion and agreement among the director and the actors, as well as everyone else involved.

With three practices a week, the play quickly becomes a big part of the lives of everyone who is involved. There's a buzzing hive of activity during each practice as everyone goes about their jobs with great industry. The sets are being built in the midst of dances being learnt and costumes tried on. The director starts to feel horribly overwhelmed although he tries not to show it. His sleep may be disturbed. How can everything and everyone, possibly be ready in time?

Mike Gold, the set designer/builder for the “Wizard of OZ” and a graduate of theatre technology college course, trots by with a partially constructed wall and says that he's "happy doing this." His sets consist of 100 - 8 foot pieces of 1x3's, 9 sheets of plywood, 22 meters of (cheap) muslin, 6 cans of paint, 400 nails, 100 - 2 and a half inch #8 screws, 5 lbs of wood glue, 20 hinges and 20 feet of chicken wire. He designs and builds for two hours every day and 10 hours every Thursday!

There are 10 mother and child actor combos in this play and also a set of twins. The 7-year-old twins, Alex and Jack Revell, join their grandfather John McDougall in this play. Alex says she is in this play "because I want to" and Jack says he's in it "Because I like to sing and I wrote a song called 'Criss Cross Applesauce' and I have it on CD!"

Tom Christianson at 79 is possibly the oldest actor in the group." I wanted to be the Lion but Paddy got the job so I ended up as a guard. I like to be in plays because it's fun and you are not the same person on stage." He has been in a least 20 plays both here and in Sault St Marie.

Students from nine different schools are involved. There are 60 cast members and 24 people working behind the scenes. NFLT has presented 53 successful productions over the past 29 years in Sharbot Lake! By the time this show goes on May 1, 2, 3 & 4 at SLHS, 130 hours of practice will have taken place and $4,700 dollars will have been spent!

With all the years of devotion to theatre by the members of NFLT, this promises to be a great show!

Tickets are available at Gray's Grocery and the Sharbot Lake Pharmacy as well as Verona Rona Hardware. Adults are $12, students $10 and on the Sunday matinee there is a special $5 rate to encourage families with children to attend. Don't wait to get your tickets at the door; they may be sold out. Check www.nflt.ca for more information or call John at 613-279-2662.

Feature Article - April 10, 2008

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Feature Article -April 10, 2008 Citizens’ Inquiry draws a crowd in Sharbot Lakeby Jeff Green

Back in the cold days of December, when Donna Dillman was two and a half months into a hunger strike, and waiting in vain at Queen’s Park for the Province of Ontario to declare a public inquiry into the uranium cycle. That’s when the idea of going to the public directly with an inquiry was hatched.

Donna agreed to eat, which was the first objective for Wolfe Ehrlichman and Marilyn Crawford, who were with her in Toronto. Since then a lot of work has been done to establish a process to give people an opportunity to have their say on the broad issues surrounding uranium exploration, mining, processing, use of nuclear facilities, and the entire matter of the disposal of waste products.

The first hearing was scheduled for April 1st, at Sharbot Lake. This was in recognition of the role the protest against the Frontenac Ventures Corporation mining claim near the village has played in galvanizing interest in a whole complex of issues.

“We had presenters lined up for a full day of hearings,” said Donna Dillman (at left), “but we did not realise that so many people would come to hear what people had to say.”

The hearing room, which was the Anglican Church Hall in Sharbot Lake, was too small for the crowds, and eventually the hearings were moved to the main chapel of the church to accommodate everyone. Among the spectators were members of the Aboriginal studies class at Sharbot Lake High School.

Thirty-five pre-registered presenters each were given ten minutes to speak, and were encouraged to also submit their presentations in writing to the inquiry. The spoken submissions were made to the large public audience as well as to three invited panellists for the session. These included former public servant Fraser McVie, journalist Cameron Smith, and Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski.

“People want to be heard,” said Donna Dillman, “They have been writing to politicians and getting no response to their letters. What we provided is an opportunity for them to express their views, without pre-judging what these would be.”

Dillman said that there were many heartfelt presentations in Sharbot Lake about a broad range of issues connected to the nuclear industry and its impact. There was a focus on uranium mining and “the community, the water, the land, and the future.”

“This hearing took place so close to where the exploration project is located, and at a place where people have been living with this for the past nine months, that people had a lot of heartfelt things to say. I expect we will see different kinds of presentations at the next hearings, which are taking place in Kingston, Peterborough and Ottawa - locations that are somewhat removed from the direct impacts of the local project,” Dillman said. She added that in Peterborough delegations are coming from Bancroft, where there is a history of uranium mining and active exploration projects that are further advanced than the one in Robertsville.

Although letters went out to several provincial ministers and the premier, there were no ministry or premier's office representation at the Sharbot Lake session. There were, however, a dozen plain-clothed members of the Ontario Provincial Police in attendance.

“Considering the high profile of this issue, it's unfortunate that the government didn't send a representative,” said Dillman.

A letter from Minister Gravelle, from Mining and Northern Development, was received by the Concerned Citizens Against Mining Uranium, CCAMU, the group behind the inquiry.

In it he said he was unable to attend, and made a couple of points in regards to uranium exploration in Ontario, including the following: “Modern exploration for uranium deposits involves the use of geophysical instruments or drilling, which have very little impact on the environment.”

CCAMU sent a response to Minister Gravelle. On the issue of exploration it said, “CCAMU is concerned that exploration and mining is considered to be the best use of land, without first considering other land uses, such as residential, farming and recreational land use. We are concerned that there are no considerations given to the current use of land and the impact on people and community. There has been no consideration for the resolutions passed by 14 local municipalities, counties and cities from Kingston through to Ottawa, related to exploration for uranium.”

The Kingston hearing, which took place on Tuesday, had over 30 presenters, and almost 40 are booked for each of the Peterborough and Ottawa hearings. Ninety written submissions have been received thus far, and they are still being accepted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The results of the inquiry will be encapsulated in a report, tentatively scheduled for release on June 28, the one-year anniversary of the occupation of the Robertsville mine.

Feature Article - April 10, 2008

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Feature Article -April 10, 2008 Frontenac-Addington Landownersby Jeff Green

One thing was immediately clear at the founding meeting of the Frontenac/Lennox and Addington Landowners Association at the Kaladar Hall last Saturday: few if any of the speakers had any need of the PA system in the community centre.

What all of the men who spoke shared was a sense of defiance against the Government of Ontario.

“The government have become flakes; they have changed for the worst. I can’t believe what’s going on in the Province of Ontario” said a speaker representing the Landowners of the Niagara region.

The Lanark Landowners Association was formed a few years ago and they quickly made a name for themselves by driving tractors to Parliament Hill and Queen’s Park, closing MNR offices, and through other actions aimed at regulations for sawmill operation, packaging food for farmers’ markets, deer culls, etc. Their slogan, “Back off Government, Get off my Land” became popular throughout rural Ontairo, and soon the Ontario Landowners were formed, with chapters springing up in many counties in eastern, southern, and western Ontario.

Edward Kennedy, from Harrowsmith, was an early convert to the landowner cause, and a member of the Lanark Landowners.

He decided recently to form a chapter in Frontenac and Addington Counties, and at the meeting people had the opportunity to join up and pay nominal dues.

Randy Hilllier, the founding President of the Lanark Landowners, and now the MPP for the riding of Lanark Frontenac Lennox and Addington, addressed the meeting.

Hillier said that the government policy and practice can be altered, and he pointed to some of the successes the landowners have had. “There is a real disconnect between the people who make the laws and the people who live by the laws,” he said. “They take the bus instead of taking a tractor. They believe that our working here is detrimental to the environment.”

Hillier made one statement that suggested he may be moderating his views about the Government of Ontario.

“We’re not saying government ought not to be there; we’re just saying they ought to back off a bit,” he said.

But he did urge the new Landowners group to assert themselves.

“Join the landowners, post a sign up, and have some fun doing it,” he said.

The Frontenac Addington Landowners’ first political action was scheduled for early this week at a farm that straddles rural Kingston and Leeds and Grenville County.

The farmer is embroiled in a dispute with the Cataraqui Conservation Authority over some ditching work.

Editorial - April 10, 2008

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Editorial -April 10, 2008 Province Should Show Common Courtesyby Jeff Green

At the citizens’ inquiry into the uranium cycle, people from four communities around Eastern Ontario are expressing opinions and concerns about a set of complex political, scientific, and environmental issues that the Government of Ontario clearly feels have already been settled.

The government has set out a request for proposal for the building of $42 billion worth of nuclear power plants. In terms of uranium mining, they have made it clear they consider exploration as unproblematic, and express confidence in federal regulations as far as mining itself is concerned.

The premier’s office, and the ministries involved: the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Energy, and even the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (because uranium and aboriginals always seem to go together) are all confident that the scientific jury has come in, and all is well.

Not only do they feel they have found the answers to all possible questions on these matters, they also feel it is unnecessary to send a single representative, even a minor official, to hear what the people in Sharbot Lake, Kingston, Perterborouogh or Ottawa have to say.

It can’t be a matter of money, because they are spending plenty by maintaining a force of half a dozen officers on hand to witness the proceedings.

There must be an intern from one ministry or another who is capable of taking notes and reporting back, even as a courtesy to the people involved in the inquiry.

I would not suggest for a minute that any of the 150 or so presenters will have any insight into the uranium cycle that has not already been well considered by the sharply-honed Ontario bureaucracy. It’s just that it would be nice if Ontario even pretended to be interested in what the people have to say.

Feature Article - April 17, 2008

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Feature Article -April 17, 2008 Verona Drugmart:A fortuitous Circumstance By Jeff GreenSome things are meant to happen.

In 2001 Hany Girgis, a pharmacist by training and a businessman by inclination, emigrated to Canada from Cairo, Egypt.

“I wanted to move to a more advanced country,” he recalls, “and I chose to move to Canada.”

Hany Girgis moved to Kingston and it took him a few years to get settled, learn English, and receive his pharmacist certification.

“I was doing odd jobs, trying to make a living, and it took a while to find time for the courses I needed to complete,” he said.

When he did get his license early in 2005, Hany worked as a supply pharmacist in Kingston and quickly realized that if he was going to own his own pharmacy, he would likely have to look to a rural community because the city was tied up with large chain pharmacies.

In the summer of 2005 he opened an independent pharmacy in Seeley’s Bay.

Meanwhile back in Verona, a pharmacy that had been open for many years had long since closed down and was becoming a distant memory, but Doctor Dempsey from the Verona Medical Centre knew there was a strong desire in the community to bring one back, so she gave Hany Girgis a call and asked him if he might be interested in opening a second pharmacy.

He agreed to come to a meeting, and it’s fair to say that the Verona Pharmacy was born at that meeting.

On May 9, Hany met with Bev Brooks, Ken Harper, Jim Landsdell, John MacDougall, Aziz Murji, Inie Platenius, Chad Van Camp and Andrew Asselstine for lunch at Rivendell golf club.

“I felt like I was more than welcome at that meeting,” Hany remembers, “people talked freely and honestly with me.”

To this day, he has kept a sheet of paper he had at that meeting, where he marked down some of the products that people at the meeting told him would be popular in Verona.

They include cosmetics, cough and cold medicine, grooming materials and all kind of items a full service pharmacy should carry.

“I promised the people at that meeting that I would open a store that people would be proud of.”

Less than 11 months after that meeting at Rivendell, the Verona Drug Mart, located beside the Local Family Farms Store, opened to the public.

“We had a soft opening on April 3, and I thought the business would start slowly and grow. It surprised me how many people came right over and transferred their prescriptions and supported me. It has been very busy already.”

The Verona Drug Mart will have its grand opening on Saturday, and true to his word Hany Girgis will begin giving back to the community right away. Among other festivities and a ribbon cutting, he will be hosting a fundraising BBQ with all proceeds going to the medical recruitment campaign.

There are two staff members already working at the pharmacy, and there will be a relief pharmacist coming in, since Hany will continue to run the pharmacy in Seeley’s Bay as well.

When asked what he does on his time off; he paused for a second, then said, a bit sheepishly, “I’m working most of the time, but I really like to work”.

He also likes Canada. Even though his mother, sister, and brother in-law live in California and have encouraged him to move there, he said he finds Canadians to be “warmer and more relaxed”.

With the addition of pharmacy, Verona continues to progress as a commercial center. Another of the empty storefronts that dotted Main Street a few years ago is alive once again.

Feature Article - April 17, 2008

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Feature Article -April 17, 2008 Economic Development and the Shabot ObaadjiwaanBy Jeff Green

The Shabot Obadjiwaan First Nation have big plans for their smoke shop on Highway 7 at Silver Lake.

According to Chief Doreen Davis, the smoke shop could be expanding in the future to sell gasoline, and a chip wagon and native craft store are being talked about as well.

The Shabot Obaadjiwaan have also established local trading dollars, called Anishnabe Wampum, on the model of bartering systems that exist in Tamworth and other localities.

“By using Anishnabe wampum, people are trading rather than exchanging money. It is something that has been done in reserves out west for years,” Davis said in an interview late last week. “Eventually we hope to remove ourselves from the monetary system.”

The Anishnabe wampum attracted the attention of regulators last fall because of a website that was set up under the name “Anishnabewampum.com” which promoted “The first Algonquin Bank of Canada.”

Banks are subject to stringent regulations in Canada, and the Office of the Superintendant of Financial Institutions (OSFI) was alerted. When they were unable to contact anyone from anishanbewampum.com after making several attempts, a warning was issued on the RCMP Phonebusters website and through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in the United States.

According to RCMP officer Jason Lamontagne, the RCMP always make several attempts,” at least a half a dozen” to contact people before issuing a warning notice.

The warning notice, which was published at Scamfraudalert.com said, in part: “This entity is not a bank organized under the Bank Act (Canada) nor is it an authorized bank under that act. Accordingly, OSFI does not supervise this entity and states that caution should be used in any dealings with this entity”.

OSFI's warning notice states that the "entity has been requested to stop holding itself out as a bank, but has made no response."

The website has since been removed from the internet.

It was all a mistake, according to Doreen Davis.

“We had no intention of opening a bank, or lending out money,” Davis said. “They wrote us a letter asking for an accounting and we explained what we are doing - that what we have is a kind of clearing house for our trading, not a bank, and they were satisfied. We are an incorporated community; what we are doing is no different than printing Canadian Tire money.”

The smoke shop has also been the subject of interest on the part of RCMP, the Health Unit, and Revenue Canada. Last summer, it was located near the White Lake fish hatchery, the location where the Shabot Obaadjiwaan are planning to develop a cultural center and band office, and it was moved to the site of a former gas station next to the Silver Seven Restaurant in the fall.

In so doing, it moved from the jurisdiction of the KFL&A Health Unit to the Leeds and Grenville Health Unit.

Yves Decoste from the Tobacco program of the Leeds and Grenville Health Unit, has participated in meetings between Shabot Obaadjiwaan members, the RCMP, and the Federal Department of Finance to talk about the shop, which sells bags of 200 cigarettes for under $20 a bag, a practice that is common on reserves such as Tyendinaga, but not off reserve.

“At the Health Unit, we are specifically enforcing the SmokeFree Ontario Act,” Decoste said in an interview early this week, “which deals with a smoke-free work place, sales to minors, and having the proper vendor signage. As far as we are concerned, the smoke shop is complying with the SmokeFree Ontario Act. If there are other acts that they are violating, they are not under our control.”

The News contacted the RCMP in Kingston, but we were informed that the officer who has dealt with this matter is away this week on a training course.

“We sat with the RCMP, and the smoke police,” Doreen Davis said. “ and they have no issue at all. The smoke shop is not owned by an individual, it is owned by the community and profits are going to the Shabot Obaadjiwaan community. I met with everybody I could think of and they are leaving us alone.

“We have the right to do this. We have the same rights as any reserve, even if we are called non-status.”

The Shabot Obaadjiwaan do not seek status under the Indian Act nor do they want to establish anything resembling a reserve, according to Chief Davis.

“Heavens, no,” she said. “Development needs to happen in this community with all people involved. We need to brand the Algonquin presence in a good way. We have worked and lived shoulder to shoulder with our neighbours for many, many years. We are here to protect and share, not to segregate ourselves.”

Letters - April 17, 2008

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Letters - April 17, 2008 Letters: April 17

Re: Local Liberals Looking Forward to Election, Edward Kennedy

What's In a Tree?,Tracy Moore

Re: Local Liberals Looking Forward to Election

“Local Liberals looking forward” in the April 10 Frontenac News should read, “Local Liberals look backwards”, judging by the irresponsible, inaccurate and defamatory comments they are well noted for.

I would ask Ian Wilson upon what does he presuppose his comments that “we now have an MPP who has no interest in any part of the riding south of Highway 7, but luckily as Liberals we have resources to help people.” What would be the difference of trading an MPP who is falsely misrepresented as “having no interest in the south part of the riding, “for MPP Ian Wilson who would have no interest in the north part of the riding?

Perhaps Ian can explain to me why Randy Hillier has a constituency office in Napanee? Would that be so he can serve the needs of people in the north? How laughable.

Perhaps he can explain why Randy Hillier hit the road running a few days after Queen’s Park entered session, and has not stopped serving the needs of his whole constituency since?

What are these “resources” he speaks of to help people, would it be hissenseless focus on symptoms instead of the actual causative agent of the malady?

Look at his assertion that his position on uranium mining differs from the current policy of the provincial government. He just does not seem to get it, even after Randy Hillier explained to him umpteen times that the real problem is the Mining Act legislation. Randy Hillier has always been a property rights advocate, in total opposition to the Mining Act as it gives prospectors/companies the right to stake claims on private property. The Robertsville protesters should have been at the offices of provincial and federal ministries of mining, not at a place that was and is private property. Had they done this, they would have had lots of more support including Landowners backing, done a lot more good, and had a greater impact on securing the proper solution.

One final note, at a recent Landowners meeting another leader of the movement confidentially informed me that his"scouts" had seen claims staked throughout specific areas that are unknown it seems to all but these Landowner Association members and the prospectors who filed these claims. This of course is what happens when you target the symptom without eliminating the actual disease, it continues to spread.

Get with it people, attack the Mining Act if you really want to secure this area for property owners and establish freedom from government intrusion. This is the ONLY way to eliminate the deadly disease. Robertsville was but a hiccup in the hurricane of tyranny. The disease is still alive and well all over Ontario!

One final note Ian, I do like you and indicated the same when we met last year, opining I would have voted for you if Randy was not in the running. May I give you some advice that a politician needs to be told by his people, "if you keep throwing dirt you are going to lose ground".

Edward Kennedy

What’s in a Tree?

Answer: Life … and lots of it.

Bees, birds, nests, insects, carbon, critters, swings, kids, forts, moss, lichen.

Now some may ask ‘Yes, but what’s in a Dead tree?’ The answer is still Life … only in a dead or dying tree there is even more of it.

At this time of year the urge to ‘clean up’ takes hold. Standing dead trees are often considered dangerous eyesores in need of removal, but they actually play a very important role in wildlife ecology. They provide food, hunting perches, and natural cavities that are the required nesting sites for many species of bird and mammal. These trees give life to our backyards, and to our neighbourhoods.

In many cases trees that seem ‘dead’ are often still very alive. Even though they exhibit large cavities or dead limbs, these trees are still offering the invaluable services of; water retention, carbon storage, releasing oxygen, acting as windbreaks, and providing shade and a cooling effect in the hot summer months.

And let’s not forget that a completely dead tree can in fact stand for many decades, giving life, shade and contributing to the beauty of home and neighbourhood for three generations of children. That is something to think about before setting the teeth of the chainsaw to its trunk. Resisting the urge to ‘clean up’ for just a moment, let’s consider the complete picture and think much longer term. Let’s look at the benefits in terms of wildlife, aesthetic and social appreciation, considering carefully the values that will be lost forever if that tree is taken down and hauled away.

Tracy Moore,South Frontenac Environmental Technician\Consultant