I was shocked to hear that Robert Hinse suffered a stroke on Saturday, December 15th. As you may recall, everything was covered with a sheet of ice, which made the First Responders’ job that much harder.
According to Robert Hinse’s neighbour, Bob Linney, he had fallen in his kitchen, just at the top of the basement stairs. Apparently, it took paramedics a few minutes to find him as the call to 911 simply said, “I need help, I have fallen.” Paramedics and volunteer firemen got him outside on a mobility unit, which is used to get patients out of tight locations or up and down stairs. Once in the yard, Robert was transferred to a regular stretcher and taken to the Heart Institute in Ottawa.
Robert Hinse has lived in Dunvegan for nearly twenty years. He purchased Don and Shelia Whealon’s farm (formerly the Wilamoski property) on the eastern edge of the hamlet. Robert’s dream of planting a vineyard and, in the fullness of time, opening a winery never came to fruition. However, he did take great joy from a growing collection of livestock that included horses, sheep and beef cattle. Unfortunately, given his stroke, Robert’s family has had to start dispersing some of the animals. First to go was the herd of sheep.
Robert was transferred to Glengarry Memorial Hospital after Christmas and began their excellent “stroke recovery” program. I’m told his son Matthieu was able to bring him home this past weekend, but has to return him to Alexandria for continuing physiotherapy. Welcome home Robert. Here’s wishing you a speedy recovery.
Belated birthday wishes
On a more cheery note, two Dunvegan families celebrated birthdays recently. Putting age before beauty, we’ll start with René Trottier who just celebrated his 85th time passing “Go.” While he is beginning to slow down a wee bit, René stills lights up a room with his smile and the twinkle in his eye.
Our second celebrant was Annette MacLeod. Husband Kenny and the couple’s entire extended family were able to pull off a surprise birthday celebration at the North Glengarry restaurant this past Friday evening. This explains why the MacLeods were unable to attend the DRA’s AGM and potluck supper. Which is a pity, because Annette and Kenny had hoped to bring a piping hot pot of beaver stew for folks to try.
Orange Hall appeal
And speaking of last Friday’s Dunvegan Recreation Annual General Meeting, you missed a good one if you weren’t there. In addition to the usual suspects, North Glengarry councilors Carma Williams and Jeff Manley and a number of other guests joined us. The potluck was delicious, despite the obvious lack of beaver stew. And the business meeting went smoothly as treasurer Sean Burgess presented his financial report and president Ben Williams gave a glowing account of the Association’s accomplishments in 2018 and plans for 2019.
With the serious stuff out of the way, I was invited to the podium to give a Reader’s Digesthistory of the Dunvegan community hall, which celebrates its 100thbirthday this year. Over the course of its existence, this beloved structure has served three masters and mistresses: the Loyal Orange Orders of Dunvegan, the Dunvegan Women’s Institute and the Dunvegan Recreation Association. To illustrate this, I brought along some slides… from the laying of the cornerstone in 1919 to the 1992 ribbon-cutting handover of the hall from the WI to the DRA. We had a grand old time analyzing the images and putting names to the faces, where we could.
I won’t go over the content of my presentation as, with any luck, you will get to read an expanded version of it when the booklet I hope to publish hits the sales counters of Glengarry. The intention is that the booklet on the history of our hall will serve as a small fundraiser for the DRA. Towards this end, I’m hoping to hear from North Glengarrians near and far who have photos that feature the old Orange Lodge. I’d love to borrow and scan them for use in the booklet. I’m also on the hunt for those willing to share a fond recollection of the hall.
CrokiCurl returns
By far, the hit of the 2018 Dunvegan Winter Carnival was our new CrokiCurl rink. A mash-up of curling and crokinole, CrokiCurl is a life-sized version of the board game that’s played on ice with plastic curling rocks instead of wooden crokinole “buttons.”
Invented in Winnipeg in 2016, DRA volunteer Jim Tilker spearheaded its introduction last year here in Dunvegan. And folks loved it. So Jim and Ben Williams hope to set up the playing surface in time for the Carnival on February 2nd… with Mother Nature’s cooperation.
Best little carnival
As always, the February 2ndWinter Carnival will open with a Country Style Buffet Breakfast at the DRA Hall, 19053 County Road 24, from 8:00 to 10:00 AM. The spread features chilled juices, hot coffee, crispy bacon, succulent breakfast sausages, fluffy scrambled eggs, stacks of flapjacks drenched in real maple syrup (which I believe was donated by Laurent Souligny’s new sugar shack on the Blythe side road). The communal meal is only $8.00 a head, which I’m told is a bargain on the breakfast circuit. Children 5 to 12 get to dine for $5.00.
Then the Carnival action moves east along Dunvegan Road to 19314 County Road 24 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. There — in addition to CrokiCurl — you and your family can enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides, skating on the pond and sledding and tobogganing down the hill on to the pond ice and our 9thannual Snow Volleyball or “Snolleyball” tournament
And when your tootsies or fingertips get cold, you can make a beeline to the farmhouse and warm up by the Rumford fireplace and enjoy a bowl of Terry’s homemade soup and oven-fresh rolls.
While Dunvegan’s winter carnival is not big in size, it is one of the best in the Tri-County area. And remember, all of the outdoor activities and refreshments are FREE… so spread the word and bring a neighbour or friend.
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