Last Saturday evening, as Terry and I motored into Dunvegan on our way to the DRA’s Potluck & AGM, we passed through ground-hugging clouds of wood smoke drifting across County Road 24. Upon arrival at the Recreation Hall, I asked about its source and was told a 24-hour burn permit had been issued for the piles of stumps and slash left over from the land clearing north of the hamlet.
In my experience, a round-the-clock outdoor burn permit is very unusual. Standard operating procedure is that these fires be restricted to the daytime. So I went on-line to read North Glengarry’s Open Air Burning By-law #01-2015… wherein Section 2.4 states: “No person shall set, or permit to be set, a fire in the open air between one half hour before sunset and one half hour after sunrise.”
I was also surprised to discover that our Township’s open-air fire by-law makes no specific reference to the burning of agricultural land clearing waste. One must keep in mind that North Glengarry’s by-law is not a holdover from decades ago when land clearing was not a major issue. By-law #01-2015 was enacted by Council on February 9, 2015 and still has that new car smell.
By way of contrast, South Glengarry’s burn by-law (#13-15) was also updated last year. However, it does contain a separate section on “Agricultural and Land Clearing” fires, with nine very detailed provisions specifying everything from the diameter and height of the piles to the minimum inter-pile distance. According to the South Glengarry official with whom I spoke, the township started by reviewing “best practices” for land clearing fires in other municipalities. It then consulted extensively with farmers. Only then was the new by-law drafted and enacted.
I also spoke with South Glengarry’s Fire Chief, Vic Leroux. He tells me the guidelines (developed in concert with the farming community) are that the piles should dry for a minimum of one year and, if possible, two years. He also recommends that farmers separate the stumps from the other materials. This allows farmers to give the piles of stumps a good shake before being set alight, to knock off any earth and rocks. The net result is a faster, safer burn that has less tendency to smolder for weeks and months. Leroux is proud of the fact that his township went out of their way to involve farmers in the planning process. “They have the right to burn,” says Leroux, “but in a safe manner… and as good neighbours.”
To be fair to folks on both sides of the issue, it might be wise to have a second look at our by-law and adopt a little bit less of a one-size-fits-all approach. There is a huge difference between homeowners burning yard waste in the spring and fall and farmers putting the torch to dozens of huge piles of tree roots and remnants spread across tens of acres of farmland. To be fair to all, the rules need to be crystal clear.
AGM was delicious!
But back to business. The story above started off with Terry and I heading to the Dunvegan Recreation Association’s Annual General Meeting. After doffing our coats, we spent a few minutes renewing old acquaintanceships before the group headed to the sixteen-foot long potluck table to pile their plates high. Then, after the members visited the dessert and coffee bar, the meeting got down to business.
The first item on the agenda was a review and adoption of the minutes from last year’s meeting… followed by a financial report from treasurer, Sean Burgess. Next, Ben Williams took to the stage to give us an overview of the Association’s various programs, events and fundraisers during the year. The list included everything from our monthly euchre luncheons, summer soccer, 2015 winter carnival and annual crokinole & taffy party to the Halloween bash, “Visit with Santa” event and the “Christmas Music & Mayhem” concert.
While the worth that the DRA brings to the community is truly a group effort, a number of persons were singled out for special recognition. These included Kim Raymond (event organizer and volunteer coordinator), Robert Campbell (euchre set-up and take-down)… plus honourary Dunveganites: Linda Burgess (euchre), Ann Stewart (euchre) and Rosemary Chatterson (Music & Mayhem).
The AGM’s returning officer, Bob Garner, then helped the group elect the following Executive Committee for 2016/2017:
President – Ben Williams
V-President – Kim Raymond
Treasurer – Shawn Burgess
Secretary – Vivian Franklin
Directors: Laurie Maus, Mona André, Karine Spuehler and Yves Cantin
After a quick overview of the 2016 Winter Carnival, the meeting was adjourned.
Two NEW Carnival Activities…
This year’s edition of the Dunvegan Winter Carnival on Saturday, February 6th will see the addition of two brand new features to the tried and true list of crowd pleasers. After last year’s winter celebration, the DRA Executive brainstormed a list of potential enhancements to the one-day event. And Ben Williams announced at last Saturday’s AGM that the Carnival organizing committee has chosen to start with a couple of items from that list: Snowshoeing (both racing and trail blazing) and an Open Air Bonfire (for which they’ll no doubt get a permit, in order to comply with by-law #01-2015).
I’m told that Linda and Stephen Burgess are lending the DRA their collection of funky, inner-tube snowshoes. Easy to get on and off — and designed to make it simple for beginners to take to the trail — the stockpile includes sizes for all ages.
Everyone loves a bonfire and carnival goers are no exception. While the exact location of the blaze has yet to be determined, it will be centrally situated so sledding enthusiasts, skaters and the like can take short warm-up breaks as required.
As it has for decades, Carnival 2016 will kick off with a Country Breakfast Buffet at the DRA Hall, 19053 County Road 24. Organized by Executive Committee members Kim Raymond and Vivian Franklin, the delicious (but artery-clogging) feast starts at 8:00 AM and goes until 10 AM. The cost is just $7.50 for adults, $3.00 for children five to twelve, and kids under five are free. I’m told that Kim and Vivian will be introducing a delicious new menu item, which I’ll showcase in greater detail next week.
When the Breakfast closes at 10:00, the action moves down to our place… 19314 County Road 24. Once again, I’ll flesh things out a bit more in my next column, but here’s a quick sketch of what will be in store:
- Brothers Jake and Sam Wensink, along with their team of Belgians (Limerick and Sara) will be providing FREE sleigh rides through our snow-covered back bush.
- Kim Raymond’s ever-popular scavenger hunt through the wilderness could put your youngster in the running to win an impressive prize basket.
- Teams of Snolleyball players will once again compete in one of Eastern Canada’s strangest sports… volleyball played in the snow.
- The pond is shaping up to offer near-perfect sledding and skating conditions. Volunteers are grooming a total of THREE rinks: one for the downhill sliding crowd, one for pick-up hockey games and one for family skating.
- Terry will once again open up her home so that cold and tired families can warm their toes by the fireplace and refuel with complementary mugs of hot chocolate, piping hot bowls of homemade soup and home-baked rolls and jam.
As always, the Dunvegan Winter Carnival welcomes folks for far and wide. And I don’t just mean Vankleek Hill, Apple Hill, Alexandria and all points in between. I know of families who are hoping to come from as far away as Martintown, Ottawa and even Toronto. Now if I could only find a way to convince Dunvegan families with young children to come out and play.
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