A couple of weeks ago, Sean Burgess sent me a “heads up” e-mail. A teacher by profession, Sean lives (appropriately I’ve always thought) in Dunvegan’s 19th century brick schoolhouse. He thought I should know about a bombshell report recently released by Ontario’s Ministry of Education: Building for the Future: Pupil Accommodation Review. If you haven’t seen it, the document makes for interesting reading. It’s available on-line, but the URL is too long to include here. Just Google the document’s title and look for the “www.boarddocs” result that offers you a PDF.
Don’t be fooled by the report’s title. Wynne’s Liberal government long ago took a page from George Orwell’s frightening futuristic novel Nineteen Eighty-four, where the Ministry of Plenty imposes strict rationing and the Ministry of Peace is constantly waging war. In governmental Newspeak, “building for the future” actually refers to “closing schools.” In the case of students from the Dunvegan area, and the rest of North Glengarry, the report is recommending the closure of Glengarry District High School and Maxville Public School… two institutions that have long been an integral part of the Anglo community in this region. These closures will take place at a “future date to be determined”, and students will bussed out of the community to VCI in Vankleek Hill or Tagwi in Stormont.
While I wasn’t at the group’s inaugural meeting, I’m told that to arrive at the low “occupancy rate” the Ministry is using as justification for the high school’s closure, they are including the student spaces that were vacated when the new French high school was built. These are spaces they have subsequently leased to the Glengarry Archives, TR Leger Adult Education and the Encore Program. It would appear the officials at MiniLearn took accounting at the Hide & Seek Academy.
To say that local parents are upset is a gross understatement. I spoke with Alyson Graham (who grew up in Dunvegan) and she told me that a “Save our Schools” Steering Committee was formed after the meeting at Glengarry District High School last Wednesday night. A coalition of concerned community members, parents and students, the Committee hopes to galvanize the community into action and challenge the UCDSB’s proposal by offering some well-thought-out, viable alternatives.
“Our mandate is also to keep people informed, through email, newsletters, Facebook, Twitter, local media and any other avenue we can manage,” said Alyson. “Student presence on the committee is valuable, as they help to keep their peers informed throughout the process as well.”
The fledgling protest movement isn’t wasting any time. They already have a Facebook page, “Glengarry SOS”, designed and managed by Genevieve Malouin-Diraddo. Plus, a logo has been designed; T-shirts have been printed and are selling fast; lawn signs are in the works; and the group’s first official meeting is slated for Thursday, October 13th at 7:00 PM at GDHS.
The steering committee will also attend the North Glengarry Council meeting Tuesday night to drive home the negative impacts the Board’s plan will have on our Township’s economy AND the sustainability of our community. I believe the point they want to make is that this is NOT just a narrow parent/student issue. The closure of Glengarry District High and Maxville Public will have broad, long-reaching effects on everyone in North Glengarry. To preserve rural education in Glengarry, now is the time to speak out against this proposal.
As Alyson told me, “If ever there was a time for the Glengarry community to come together, it is now.” And, as a first salvo, she encourages you to attend a peaceful rally at Bridgewood Public School (850 Nick Kaneb Drive in Cornwall) on Friday, October 14 at 9:00 AM. Why Cornwall? Because Mitzi Hunter, Ontario’s Minister of Education, will be there for the official opening of the brand new school. “Please come out and show your support by wearing RED, BLACK, and WHITE,” said Alyson. For more information, you can reach her at 613-360-5512.
Whimsical Tale of Success
One of the positive aspects of the digital revolution is that it has dramatically altered the world of self-publishing. Budding authors are no longer dependent on the big boys to see their work in print. They can do it themselves. And more and more people are doing just that. A perfect example is the small tome on the life and times of Gwen Morris that was published by her family shortly after her death. Another is an illustrated collection of musings by honourary Dunveganite, Flip Flockton, entitled The Creative Urge and Other Whimsical Tales of Life after Seventy!
When I read Flip’s book, I was struck by its bittersweet tone. I detected an undercurrent that belied the “life begins at 70” theme implied on the cover. However, when I called Flip on this, she replied that it was probably a product of her British sense of humour. And that may well be. The important thing is that her book launch went swimmingly. Every one of the fifty books in the initial press run was purchased. As were a significant number of the cards she had made of the drawings in the book, and signed and framed copies of the original art. “The support of friends and acquaintances was amazing,” Flip told me. This was especially gratifying for Flip because the whole point of the private book launch was to raise money for a charity near and dear to Flip’s heart: Beyond 21, founded by her friend Tish Humphries.
Beyond 21 was founded in 2010 to help adults with developmental disabilities live connected, respected lives that contribute to our community. And the need is great. As family caregivers quickly discover, the moment their loved one turns 21 years of age the doors to many government-sponsored programs are slammed in their face. This leaves them scrambling to patch together activities and educational opportunities to structure their loved one’s time.
Towards this end, Beyond 21offers programming for adults with developmental disabilities that maximizes each individual’s potential. It does so by creating a safe environment where they can thrive and grow socially, physically, emotionally, and intellectually. The organization is also committed to building local partnerships in the community that help support adults with developmental disabilities… and to encouraging lifelong learning opportunities. A quote on the organization’s web site, www.beyond21.org sums it all up: “It is our sincere hope in creating this unique learning center that our participants wake up every day and have something meaningful to look forward to.”
How does this small registered charity achieve all this? Through the generous support of individuals, businesses, agencies and foundations. They receive no government funding. That’s why initiatives like Flip’s book launch project are so important. Naturally, being from Dunvegan, I wondered if all of Beyond 21’s clients were from the Cornwall region. The charity is headquartered in that city. However, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that one third of the adults with developmental disabilities they serve come from Glengarry. So, if you are looking for a worthy cause to support, please consider visiting the “Donate” page of their web site and dropping a few Bit Coins in the virtual collection plate.
Fred & Bonnie Night
While we’re talking about worthy causes, I also wanted to mention the annual Child Haven fund raising dinner on Saturday, October 29th at the Glengarry Sports Palace, 170 Macdonald Boulevard in Alexandria. Bonnie and Fred Cappuccino — who live a bit west of Baltic Corners, which, in turn, is just south of Dunvegan — started Child Haven International in 1985. Today, the charity is responsible for a network of nine children’s homes serving over 1,000 children in India, Nepal, Tibet and Bangladesh.
I’ll have a more complete description in next week’s column of what’s in store at this important event. In the meantime, here’s the shorthand version. The evening starts at 6:00 PM with cocktails and a Silent Auction, followed by a delicious Thai buffet dinner catered by Bhanthai Cuisine. Tickets are $45 each, or $40 per person if you sign up for a table of eight. To reserve a seat (or a table), please contact Julie Slater at 613-525-1104… or contact the Child Haven office at (613) 527-2829.
VKH Literary Evening
Next Tuesday, October 18th at 7:00 PM the Arbor Gallery Cultural Centre (36 Home Avenue, Vankleek Hill) is hosting a Literary Evening to recognize and celebrate local authors who have published new work. The event will feature reflections and readings by the authors including Susan Jephcott, Karen Molson, Samme Putzel, Louise Sproule and Dunvegan’s Bonnie Laing. There is no set admission for the soirée, but donations will be gratefully accepted.
Candy Call #1
The Dunvegan Recreation Association has just advised me that the drop-off spot for the DRA Halloween Party candy donations has been moved. This year, Mona Jerome has kindly agreed to host the Candy Mountain station this year. Mona lives in Yvon Leblanc’s former home and barbershop on the northeast corner of the Dunvegan crossroads. Her civic number is 19083 County Road 24. If you have sweets that you’d like to contribute, just leave them on Mona’s front porch. A note to those with larcenous intent: the front of Mona’s home will be under CCTV surveillance 24/7.
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