email: southdundasinbox@gmail.com

South Grenville's Eric Chellen on a free shot at Seaway's District High School's

netminder Owen Radley, netting one of three counters in the Senior game

at Prescott's Alain Chartrand Community Centre on Thursday . . .

South Grenville captures the Battle of the St. Lawrence Cup at Prescott with Christine Spool (South Grenville) and Carrie Gilmour (Seaway) making the presentation . . . 

Thursday, April 18th - South Grenville District High School iced a team of speed and talent in both the Intermediate and Senior divisions of the Battle of the St. Lawrence, entertaining a huge crowd for the Battle of the St. Lawrence at the Alaine Chartrand Community Centre in Prescott on Thursday morning. The opposition Seaway District High School fell somewhat short on this outing, coming up with a single goal in each of the two games. And promises to return with a vengeance in the spring of 2025.

        Will Cummings notched Seaway's Intermediate counter against South Grenville's Schylar Schepelharmar hat-trick and Jade O'Neil's single. In the Senior match Eric Chellen fired three markers while Schylar Schepelharman,  Ben Doris and Oliver Davidson added singles for South Grenville over a lone Seaway counter from Jordan Elliott.

        The four competing teams played two great games, broken by a dazzling display of figure skating between contests. Hundreds of students cheered on their favorites, enjoyed pizza and refreshments, and shared stories and notes among friends of both schools. Profits from the event are marked for the upcoming school Proms.

Tuesday, April 17th  – Seaway District High School's team of students,  Julianne Barnum, Garrett Templeton, Seb Desrosiers, Lincoln Robinson, scored 3rd Place in the Grade 7/8 2024 SKILZ Competition at Kemptville. The team was entered in the Green Energy (turbine building) category of the event.

Approximately 120 Grade 7/8 students from across the Upper Canada District School Board gathered in Kemptville on Tuesday, April 9th to compete in the 2024 SKLZ Competition. Teams of students worked on five categories of building: Green Energy (turbine building), Technology Challenge (hydraulic mining challenge), Construction Challenge (tiny homes), LEGO Mechanical Engineering and LEGO Robotics.

        The initiative, which began in 2018 with one school, has grown to 11 schools and includes the two new Lego robotic events. The competition incorporates problem solving, design challenges and teamwork.

        Participating schools included Glengarry District High School, Pleasant Corners Public School, Seaway District High School, Russell High School, Char-Lan District High School, Athens District High School, St. Lawrence Secondary School, Carleton Place High School, Rideau District High School, North Grenville District High School and North Dundas District High School.

        Judges for the event included a coordinator from the Wind Turbine Technician Program at St. Lawrence College, representatives from the Mining Industry Human Resources Council and Local 93 Carpenters Union two building systems specialists from the UCDSB, retired engineer and Ward 5 Trustee Michel Labonte and a secondary school construction teacher. We thank them for their help in making this event a success.

        Gold medal winners from each event will now move on to the Skills Ontario Competition in Toronto on May 6. 

Results of UCDSB students moving on are outlined below:

Green Energy:

Glengarry DHS: Shahnoor Bajwa, Callan MacDonald, Shaelynn MacLeod, Mae Ella McCormick

Char-Lan DHS: Mac Menard, Billy Cordner, Lily Major, Mila Kinloch

Seaway DHS: Julianne Barnum, Garrett Templeton, Seb Desrosiers, Lincoln Robinson

Technology:

Char-Lan DHS: Jade Malyon, Reeghan O’Farrell, Lexa Lalonde, Olivia Tyo

Glengarry DHS: Lucy Cox, Cedric Jund, Kees McIntosh, Greg Oud 

St. Lawrence SS: Patrick Bugajski, Muhammad Jan, Shabir Sultani, Grace Tokali

Construction:

Glengarry DHS: Keaton MacKinnon, Callum MacPherson, Xavier Stang, Ben Wood 

Char-Lan DHS: Wyatt Rombough, Grant Small, Karianne Boyer, Adessa Brennan

Pleasant Corners PS: Reuben Zihlmann, Emma Beraha, Declan Ingram, Evalie Funke

LEGO Mechanical Engineering:

Carleton Place HS: Nick Culhane, Simon Leger Thomas Ogilvie, William Phillips

Rideau DHS: Emmett Darling, Siôn Thomas, Blake Thomas, Jane French

North Grenville DHS: Kari McKay, Daweson Gilchrist, Addison Kleiss

LEGO Robotics:

Rideau DHS: Emmett Darling, Siôn Thomas, Blake Thomas, Jane French

Char-Lan DHS: Brooklyn Murray, Saranniya Kugananthan, Mia St. Louis

North Grenville DHS: Matthew Grus, Sam McDermott, Jordan Christopher, Madden Leonard

A video documenting the event, produced by two Grade 7 students,  is available on the UCDSB YouTube Channel.

Mayor Jason Broad (centre), Municipal CAO Tim Mills (rear right) and Economic Development

Officer Tia Fraser-Dupuis meet with the Tesla Supercharging

Station team at McEwan's in Morrisburg . . . 

Tuesday, Apr. 17th - Representatives of Tesla Canada's vehicle fast charging network visited their newest installation located in Morrisburg on Tuesday afternoon making official their recent opening of the area's latest Supercharger station. Tesla representatives from Toronto (Diego and Brandon, (Ontario division) and Montreal (Audrey, Quebec Divison) were on hand for a meet and greet with South Dundas Mayor Jason Broad; Municipal CAO Tim Mills; and Tia Fraser-Dupuis, Economic Development & Communications Officer; and to share an information discussion.

        Mayor Broad announced that the municipality was in a win-win situation with the newest municipal investor in that South Dundas is in partnership with the owners of Rideau St. Lawrence Distribution, the providers of the electricity that feeds the Superchargers at the McEwan property along Morrisburg's Highway 2 and Bank Street property. Every fill-up becomes an additional 'hard currency' investment in South Dundas.

        "The investment Tesla has made is perfect for our community," Broad added, "They've modernized and improved the location, added another reason to turn off Highway 401 and come into South Dundas, and they purchase their product from

our municipality."

       "It's a great location for our product too," added one of the Tesla group spokespersons, "People are coming off the highway, this Supercharger station is a location at which people can enjoy a quick eating stop, a 15-to-20 minute recharge, a car wash and very close access to the community at large."

South Dundas' 6-unit Supercharger station adds a state-of-the-art appearance

to the McEwan property at Morrisburg's Highway, 2 and Bank Street . . .

       The Supercharger stations will charge a vehicle in the aforementioned times according to two customers who had admitted to following their vehicle's station charging maps. One customer stated he was stopping to recharge for 15-minutes, grab a sandwich and continue on to Napanee for his next charge. He offered that the recharges are quick if driver's are satisfied to run on a 75 per-cent charge. He was returning from an Eastern Canada grandchild visiting trip to Toronto.

        "When I look at that sign up there," he said, pointing to the fuel price signage, "I know I'm about $7,000 in my pocket so far with these regular trips. Gasoline wouldn't have allowed me this luxury!"

        "Charging definitely slows down once the battery reaches 75-per cent and above," he pointed out, "But the fuel savings and periodic rest stops are a bonus I welcome at my age."

        A second driver who said he was driving from Vaudreuil, QC, to Toronto more than once-a-week, explained he was more than satisfied with both the Supercharging stations and his electric vehicle. He just happened to be driving a mid-model Tesla.

        "There is no comparison to a combustion vehicle and associated costs," he said, adding, "My fuel costs alone have been reduced by more than $450 a month. And this more futuristic way of transportation is comfortable, provides more efficient direction and mapping routes that often provide me a break while travelling long distances on busy highways. Another bonus is that many of the stations tend to be located in areas like this." 

        "What else can be said," Mayor Broad added as the meeting wound down, "This location has been opened just a few weeks and the business seems brisk. It's a win-win for our municipality."

Tuesday, April 16th – Due to the absence of the local music festival in Cornwall this year, several Upper Canada District School Board school bands are missing out on significant and anticipated performance opportunities. Knowing the important role performing plays in a band program, teachers Erin Ritchie from St. Lawrence Secondary School, Colleen Leslie from 

Seaway District High School and Joel Exner from North Dundas District High School, came together to find a solution.

        After months of planning, the trio have organized a band workshop and community performance to be held Wednesday, May 1st at the Dev Hotel and Conference Centre in Cornwall. Approximately 120 students from the three schools who are in the for-credit band programs will have the opportunity to take part in a series of instrument-focused workshops, play for an adjudicator and host a community performance. 

        “Playing for an audience and receiving professional feedback from an outside source is a huge part of being in a band. So, when we learned that the Kinsmen Music Festival would not be happening this year, we thought it was important to find another way for these students to get this experience, without having to travel too far,” explained Erin Ritchie.  

        Students will arrive at the conference center around 11 a.m. and take part in leadership activities, mingle with band mates and meet musicians from other schools in the morning. After lunch, each band will have an opportunity to perform for a community adjudicator who will give them feedback on their performance, and then musicians will move into instrument-based workshops.

        “These workshops are being led by professional musicians. Some are retired and present teachers with the UCDSB and others are community members. It’s important that students have the opportunity to work with others in the community and learn from them. I know that my music teacher had such an influence on my life,” Ritchie added.  

        The bands will convene in the afternoon to practice and then again after dinner for the community concert. Members of the public are invited to attend. The concert will take place from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., offering free admission, while donations will be appreciated. All funds raised will go to the asylum seekers housed at Dev Centre and to the House of Lazarus in Mountain.  

        “We are very excited for this event. It will be the first of this kind for many of the students and from what we’ve heard they are excited to have this opportunity,” Coleen Leslie pointed  out, adding,  “We are so fortunate to have a number of community groups and businesses supporting us in making this event happen.”

UCDSB medalists Georgia Stanley, Anna Bimm, Anthony Velocci, Cohen Williams and Craig Villeneuve.

Wednesday, April 17th – This past weekend, four medals were presented to Upper Canada District School Board students at the Skills Ontario Qualifier at St. Lawrence College, Kingston. The event, held Saturday, April 13th, brought together top competitors from 12 eastern region school boards to showcase their skills, with the aim of securing a spot to represent their boards at the provincial level.

        Nine UCDSB students (five individuals and two teams) demonstrated remarkable talent in Culinary, Carpentry, Welding and TV/Video Production, claiming an impressive total of four medals out of a possible 12.

        “Each participant exemplified spirit with their exemplary performance, demonstrating not only their skills but their professionalism and commitment to excellence,” says UCDSB Learning Partner Ashley Grant, who accompanied the students.    

       “We thank all the parents and educators who supported students through this journey.”

Medalists will advance to the highly anticipated Skills Ontario Competition, scheduled to take place in Toronto on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

UCDSB medalists moving on to the provincial competition include:

Carpentry:

Gold – Cohen Williams from Glengarry District High School (for the second year in a row)

Bronze – Craig Villeneuve from Almonte District High School

Welding:

Silver – Anthony Velocci from Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute

 TV / Video production:

Bronze – Anna Bimm and Georgia Stanley from North Grenville District School Board

Ship watcher enjoyed a somewhat rare close-up along South Dundas' waterfront

as the beautiful Viking Polaris cruised by on her way to Toronto.

The cruise ship will be starting her summer season on the Great Lakes,

offering a variety of cruise packages around the shipping circuit.

We share an accommodation where-in everyone (all two of us) enjoys a good breakfast. Rarely heavy,

most times with fruit and vegetables, at least one egg, and almost never with meat.

We had been scanning a few sites recently and saw a plate we thought was interesting.

So. this morning, when someone special said she would like a nice breakfast, we prepared this.

An English muffin, sliced of very ripe tomato with a swipe of Hellman's mayonnaise,

a thinly-sliced half-avocado with salt and pepper, and a single, free-range egg, soft-poached,

and gifted strawberry jelly topped the toasted muffins . . . 

We were easily as  taken by the changing light as with the moon moving across

the sun on the day of the recent eclipse. This photo was captured before 3:00 pm,

minutes earlier all was bright, we we sitting in the sun by the river,

and quietly, the contrast simply melted melted away to darkness.

The sunshine remains, almost incredibly, brilliant well south of us,

along the edge of the moon's sweeping shadow cast . . .

Standing along Lakeshore Drive early on Saturday morning we watched this 'salty' slip past 

one of South Dundas' newest homes. She's framed by the tree-line along the shore.

Truly one of the most perfect scenes along the river in our community . . .

Click on this link:

bit.ly/DundasManorAuction

www.dundasmanordream.ca

On Sunday afternoon at Morrisburg Arena the Morrisburg Skating Club presented there annual

season closing sh0w to a full house packed into the seats along the north wall 

surrounding the ice surface. As you will, no doubt, witness, there wasn't a lot of

standing room around the area surrounding the ice surface.

From the Can Skate crowd to the graduating skaters the afternoon staged a phantasmagoria 

of color and a near endless wonder of performing artists, sharp edged skaters performing

musical interpretations of "One Hit Wonders!". Not only did the songs of another era reverberate

through the building, volunteers and arena staff stepped up to add lighting and sparkle,

and wiring and extras to bring the show into the realm of top of the line entertainment for all

of the Moms and Dads, Sister and Brothers, Aunts and Uncles, Gramma's and Grandpas,

family friends and more.

       I had never been a fan of pizza until we moved to Montreal in the 1980's and visited Rotisserie Italienne. The small corner, hole-in-the-wall eatery was located at 1933 Rue Sainte-Catherine, two blocks east of the Montreal Forum. We knew this great little Italian place as very different from the traditional Italian restaurant. You would order at the counter and you would pick up the food when the chef yelled "your order is ready." 

        The entire restaurant had a "godfather" feel to it. We honestly felt that "good friends" was gonna come in and shoot the place up, or dunk the chef's head in the huge pot of steaming water that was always ready for pasta.

        The place had huge windows overlooking Sainte-Catherine Street. While visiting for lunch on Saturday's during the cold months meant you could sit a table to two away from a large gathering of young Montreal Canadien's players. They were there filling up on great bowls of pasta and unbelievable quantities of milk, in preparation for that evening's game just a few doors up the street.

       We would order "mozzarella in carrozza",  an Italian snack sandwich served covered in Marinara sauce. On one occasion we ordered a Margherita pizza, served on a truly thin crust as you get in Florence, Italy, and we were hooked. Thin crust, marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella, and fresh basil. A perfect combination of flavors.

        Moving to Victoria, BC, we missed the great variety of restaurants we had become used to in Quebec, and especially the late night hours they kept. We soon learned the long and stale humour directed at Victoria's night life (or lack 0f) were not far off target.

        Eventually we bumped in to a place identified as 5th Street (Bar & Grill), very upscale for BC's capital city at the time. Not only had this establishment introduced the tree-hugging population to thin-crust pizza, they boasted a huge, centrally located wood fired oven around which diners could watch the prep and baking of many dishes.

        5th Street became an after-work thirst quenching locale for us, most times followed by at least a start on dinner. And that's when we discovered 5th Street Bar & Grill's version of a Margherita pizza. 

        Our waitress around that time was a young lady who introduced herself as Natercia Achadinha, who we were soon sharing stories and adventures with. To this day Natercia is the only female we have ever witnessed crying her eyes out upset on the afternoon Ronaldo and the National Portuguese soccer team lost out in the World Cup. 

        One evening during our beer and snack hour(s) Natercia suggested we order our Margherita 'dressed'. That, she explained, would include oven-roasted garlic cloves and several splashes of good olive oil. It's been the staple since.

        Some 25-years later we still keep in touch with Natercia, and we are making our own pizzas at home for the most part. Always, following trip to Ottawa where the best of ingredients can be obtained at Nicastros, we serve pizza. In addition, since leaving the west, we've added anchovy filets too.

        We do miss Rotisserie Italienne, and we miss Nat and the evenings enjoyed at 5th Street, but we don't miss their Margheritas. Today, we believe we have perfected this flavor(s) of pizza, hands down.

seawayvalleysingers.ca - 613-643-2090 - seawayvalleysingers@gmail.ca

While returning home from the season closing Morrisburg Junior Lions Awards Night

on Saturday we couldn't help but pull over and snap a few of these two locations highlighted

by a long awaited spring evening of a full moon and starlight brightness . . .

 Under the leadership of Grade 7 teacher Blair Fitzsimons, St. Mary - St. Cecilia's group of eight

competing inventor-scientists, above, includes (back row), Will Millward, Liam Qusnel, Emily Morris,

Owen Markell, Evelyn McClafferty; (front row) Tessa Laurin, Payshence Sheldrick and Georgia Elliott.

Friday, Mar. 22nd - Eight students at St. Mary St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg have mastered their way into the final five contestant groups from across Canada who are taking part in Samsung’s ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ contest.

        Samsung’s contest encourages the use of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to create solutions around issues that can impact a community. The submissions for the contest are sponsored and submitted by a teacher (Blair Fitzsimons).

       From Samsung’s web site describing the various aspects of the ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ competition, “We consider energy efficiency and resource circularity for our products throughout their entire life cycle - sourcing, production, distribution, use and recycling - to strive towards reducing our impact on the environment, including efforts to increase water reuse and advance carbon capture technology.’

       The web page further explains the contest rules, including the requirement of a team produced video summarizing their entry that will be used by the panel of judges in selecting the order of finish for the five finalists.

       In being selected one of the Top Five entrants in Samsung’s ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ contest, the St. Mary St. Cecilia group of developing solution specialists has already won a $5000 Samsung Cash Voucher intended to purchase new technology for their school. A second  or third place finish will garner St. Mary St. Cecilia an additional $10,000. Should the St. Mary St. Cecilia entry continue on the path to 1st Place and win top approval, they are eligible for a $50,000 Cash Prize for their school, and will become owners of ‘The School for Tomorrow’ title for a year.

       In addition to the prizes handed out by Samsung’s panel of judges there is too a “People’s Choice” presentation of $5000 available for their favourite Solve for Tomorrow finalist entry. 

       When asked if there were plans in the making for any monies the student team is awarded Coach Fitzsimons said, "We see an opportunity to enhance our digital equipment so that in future school years the students can create and develop ideas on a leading edge scale. They will be able to deliver presentations in which they created all of the components, such as instructional images and artwork, right here in the class room."

       St. Mary-St. Cecilia’s eight student competing team is excitedly awaiting Samsung’s final announcement, expected in the next few days, concerning the overall order of finish.