Gordon White from Dunvegan West responded to the Save Our Schools lead in my column last week. And I’m glad he did. For starters, it confirms that at least one person from Dunvegan reads it. Second, his observations on the Glengarry school closure issue were very cogent. Here’s what Gord had to say:
“Ratepayers such as semi- retired or fully retired folks whose children have since left the system also need to be fully engaged in the battle to preserve most of the Glengarry schools on the chopping block (not all schools will be saved in the end as ex-Quebecers like ourselves witnessed in the 70’s and 80’s). While I fully support the efforts of the SOS committees to save their respective schools, they will need to treat the threat as all out war… not only with the Upper Canada District School Board, but also our very well-paid MPPs. Where are Mr. Grant Crack and Mr. Jim MacDonnell? Pinning ones hopes on injunctions and moral suasion is using only the light artillery. It’s time to max out social media and heavy duty lobbying of the decision-makers. Bring out the heavy guns and go for broke… I wish them all the best.”
Last Wednesday, I mentioned that the SOS committee was planning a peaceful rally at the official opening of Bridgewood Public School in Cornwall. The group had hoped to show the guest of honour — Mitzi Hunter, Ontario’s Minister of Education — how committed Glengarrians are to their schools. Unfortunately, the demonstration was cancelled when it was learned that the Minister would be unable to attend. I’m not sure what the official explanation was for the cancellation, but I suspect the real reason was a severe attack of cold feet. There are a whole lot of rotting tomatoes around at this time of year and the Minister may not be partial to wearing red.
Before moving on, I’d like to share the best idea I’ve heard so far. If portable classrooms have to be built in Prescott-Russell and Stormont to accommodate the influx of Glengarry students, would reversing the flow not make more sense? Instead of closing our schools, why not redraw the boundaries and bus in students that presently live on the VCI and Tagwi side of the line to our schools in Glengarry? Sort of a “good for goose, good for the gander” proposal.
Sign of the Times
Crisp red, white and black Save Our Glengarry Schools signs have begun to appear all across the Township. If you’d like to show your support by posting one (or more) in front of your home or business, the cost is only $10 per sign. Your can obtain your very own sign(s) in Alexandria at North Glengarry’s Township Office or the Quirky Carrot. Or you can contact Alyson Graham at 613-360-5512. If we still had our Post Office in Dunvegan, you would have been able to buy one there. But the powers that be closed it as well.
New Neighbours
Talking of signs, I was sad to see a “Sold” sign go up last week at Bonnie Laing’s and Greg Byers’ home near Highway 34. It’s the classic Ontario brick farmhouse on the south side of the road that used to belong to Margaret MacCrimmon. Don’t get me wrong. I’m pleased for Bonnie and Greg. They really wanted to downsize and had their eye on a great little place in the bustling metropolis of Vankleek Hill. (Given the number of times she and Greg snuck off to stay at Bill Gilsdorf’s and Susan Joiner’s place in Montreal, I’ve always suspected there was a part of Bonnie that wanted to return to the city.) And now they’ll be able to move that much closer to Beau’s.
The new owners are a couple from Mississauga. Because of Ontario’s draconian privacy laws, Bonnie was unable to tell me their names. But she did reveal that they both work for the Royal Bank and have been looking in this area for the house of their dreams for 1½ years. Given they are the parents of two adult children, I am assuming they are, like so many of us on the road, on the down side of middle age. If by chance, they see this column and want to cast aside the veil of anonymity, I invite them to e-mail me with all the juicy details of their lives. On behalf of Dunvegan East, West and at the Crossroads, welcome to the neighbourhood.
One more goodbye
The 1970s, 80s and 90s saw an influx of some very interesting individuals to this area. They came from Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and all points in between. Like previous waves of settlers, these present-day pioneers contributed hugely to the community… breathing new life into many of Glengarry’s organizations. But sadly, over the past few years more and more of them are returning to the cities or moving further west to be closer to their kids in the Big Smoke.
One such couple is Susan Joiner and Bill Gilsdorf. On Friday, October 21st, they will be bidding farewell to Glengarry. Susan tells me they moved to the old farmhouse on Bush Road on Labour Day weekend in 1988. Once they were settled in, they wasted no time in getting involved in their new community. Over the years, many Glengarry organizations and initiatives have benefited from their energy and zeal… from the Glengarry Pioneer Museum and Glengarry Historical Society to all-candidates election debates and Child Haven International. And as the farmhouse grew with each successive addition, their home slowly became the epicentre of cultural life in certain Glengarry circles.
When they sold their Glengarry home of 28 years to Miranda Burgess and Andrew McCormick this past spring, they set up a temporary base in what they affectionately called the Orange Julep (the formerly orange-clad building on the northwest corner of Old Military and Lochiel Roads). But, sadly, this too is being abandoned as of this weekend. Even though they are academic liberals of the first order (and closet Americans to boot), Terry and I are proud to call them friends and are privileged to have shared their time in Glengarry.
News of Euchre Ann
Moving on to lighter topics, I wanted to remind you that this coming Friday, October 21st is when we will be hosting the next Euchre Luncheon at the DRA Hall in Dunvegan. The fun gets underway at 12:00 PM and admission is only $5.00. For this paltry sum, you get a sumptuous repast of sandwiches, sweets, pickles and chips… and an afternoon of good-hearted card play. While I hope to see you all there, I know that one of our regulars will be unable to attend: Ann Stewart.
Ann took some time off from running the Dunvegan tournament for what was to have been a routine hip replacement. Instead, she became a poster child for Murphy’s Law. What could go wrong, did go wrong! To date, she told me she has had three surgeries, four blood transfusions and a staphylococcal infection. While she is back at home, she’s confined to her bed, hooked up to IV antibiotics. Ann isn’t certain when exactly she’ll be back on her feet, but I got the impression she really misses euchre with her friends in Dunvegan. And we all miss her. Hang in there, Ann.
Thai by Candlelight
If you’re a fan of really good Thai food (and want to support a great humanitarian cause), you should attend the annual Child Haven fund raising dinner on Saturday, October 29th at the Glengarry Sports Palace, 170 Macdonald Boulevard in Alexandria.
The hall will be decorated like never before with candlelit sari-draped tables and Eastern décor. The dinner begins at 6 PM with cocktails and Thai-based hors d’oeuvres, followed by an authentic Thai dinner served at 7 PM. Broadcaster and journalism professor Scott Hannant will MC the event, aided by Kinnon Lajoie. North Glengarry Councillor Brian Caddell and his wife, Elizabeth, a music teacher, will provide live entertainment.
The main focus of this year’s fundraising will be the $12,000 needed to buy computers for the school in Nepal. The school is expanding its curriculum to Grade Twelve, so the computers are urgently needed.
Bonnie and Fred’s grandchildren, Katarina and Kynon Cappuccino will recount their experiences volunteering with Child Haven in 2015, when they accompanied their grandmother on one of her frequent visits. As well, Bonnie and Fred will give a brief overview of all the homes’ activities.
Tickets for the evening are now on sale for $45 per person or $320 for a table of eight and must be bought by Saturday, October 22nd. The price includes the buffet dinner, dessert and coffee with a cash bar. 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.
Dunvegan PAL Course
If you’ve always wanted to earn a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), On The Mark Outdoors Training will be holding a Canadian Firearms Safety Course on Saturday, November 5th at the DRA Hall in Dunvegan. The daylong course starts at 8:00 AM and costs $150, plus $21 for the course manual. Alternatively, you can download a copy of the manual for free. I’ll have more details in next week’s column, but in the meantime if you have any questions, please contact Pam or Glen Fidler at 613-387-8602.
Candy Call #2
If you have Halloween treats you’d like to donate to the DRA’s Community Halloween Party, just leave them on Mona Jerome’s front porch. Mona lives on the northeast corner of the Dunvegan crossroads. Her civic number is 19083 County Road 24.
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