Wednesday, May 25th - One of the exciting aspects of any theatre’s season is producing a show never before seen on any stage. And when it’s a new show by audience-favourite Norm Foster, it’s even more exciting.

        Foster has written over 65 plays and Upper Canada Playhouse has produced many of them on its stage. Norm's new play, Doris and Ivy in the Home, running June 2nd thru 26th, is destined to be one of his classic hits.

        Audiences love Foster’s brand of comedy because he writes about them. His characters are everyday people experiencing the ups and downs of life. His plays are hilarious. They’re also thought-provoking. They reel you in with laughter and then deal with the challenges that we all face at some time in our lives. You leave the theatre having been entertained by characters and situations that remind you of people you know. Maybe even yourself.

        Little wonder Foster has become Canada’s most-produced playwright.

        In Doris and Ivy in the Home, retired prison guard Doris Mooney has just moved into Paradise Village, a retirement home in Canmore, Alberta. She quickly befriends Ivy Hoffbauer, a resident of the home and a former champion skier. Rounding out the trio is dapper gent Arthur Beech who has designs on Ivy.

        Love, gossip and shenanigans behind the compost heap, this is Foster at his hilarious best. The production is helmed by one of The Playhouse’s most dynamic directors, Jesse Collins, who has an impressive list of stage and TV credits to his name including an Emmy nomination. He also directed The Ladies Foursome, another first production of a Foster play that The Playhouse was thrilled to share with its audience and the theatre community at large. That play subsequently went on to receive countless productions by theatres across this country and beyond.

        "Foster and Collins have provided the Playhouse with many hits over the years," remarked Artistic Director Donnie Bowes. "They’re destined to repeat the same with Doris and Ivy in the Home."

        Collins heads up Orillia Opera House which is collaborating with The Playhouse to co-produce the play as it has with numerous past productions.

        The Playhouse has assembled a stellar cast of seasoned professionals for this Foster premiere. Playing Doris is Debbie Collins who was last seen in the 2019 season opener, Where You Are. Collins has had a prolific and varied stage career headlined by her one-woman tour de force, The Judy Garland Story, which has wowed audiences at the Stirling Festival, Theatre Orangeville, Orillia Opera House, Brockville Arts Centre, Lighthouse Theatre and many more.

        Ivy is played by Terri Cherniack, a new talent on the Playhouse stage. She has starred in Calendar Girls for Mirvish Productions, Dancing at Lughnasa for the NAC, The Philadelphia Story at Theatre Calgary as well as productions at Tarragon Theatre, Neptune Theatre, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and more.

        The Playhouse welcomes back Daniel Michael Karpenchuk as Arthur, after appearing as Kris Kringle in the theatre’s productions of Miracle on 34th Street and The Christmas Express. He has performed at such theatres as Brampton’s Rose Theatre and St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, has appeared in TV’s Murdoch Mysteries and Mayday and has voiced such productions as Caillou.

        Doris and Ivy in the Home is followed by the country comedy Sugar Road scheduled to hit the stage in July, Wally’s Café in August and a second new Norm Foster comedy, Come Down From Up River, in September.

        The summer series will be followed by a sensational new live concert The Eagles and Linda Ronstadt: What Might Have Been, in October and the season concludes in December with a magical and musical production of A Christmas Carol.

        Doris and Ivy in the Home runs June 2nd thru 26th.

Tue./Wed./Thu./Sat./Sun. at 2PM and Thu./Fri./Sat. at 8PM.

Tickets & Info at www.uppercanadaplayhouse.com; 613-543-3713 or 877-550-3650

Friday, May 27th -  Despite giving advance notice of cracking down on aggressive, careless and other poor drivers during the most robust traffic safety campaign of the year, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) laid 9,392 traffic charges during Canada Road Safety Week (May 17-23, 2022).

        Officers maintained a strong presence on roads across the province during the six-day campaign, responding to 935 collisions, three (3) of which were fatal and the majority of which were preventable.

       Aggressive drivers wreaked havoc on roads, with 8,020 speeding charges and 138 stunt driving/racing charges laid.Other charges associated with main causal factors in road fatalities that were the focus of the campaign: 

   •  Impaired driving:  216

   •  Distracted driving:  177 

   •  Careless driving:  151

   •  No seatbelt:  632 (charges apply to both drivers and passengers)

        The balance of the charges were the result of driver actions and behaviours jeopardizing the safety of road users. 

        "The results of this campaign reflect a firm commitment on the part of our officers and our valued policing partners to keeping our roads safe. I am proud of their ongoing dedication to saving lives and their zero tolerance of drivers whose poor driving behaviours jeopardize the safety of innocent road users." posted out Thomas CARRIQUE, Commissioner, Ontario Provincial Police.

 

Driver charged with multiple offences . . .

        The Stormont Dundas & Glengarry Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police has charged a driver with multiple offences after a single vehicle collision. On May 25, 2022, shortly after 1:00 p.m., officers responded to a motor vehicle collision on McPhail road in the South Stormont Township. The uninjured driver had left the scene on foot but was subsequently located. Investigation led to the driver being arrested. 

Sukhman Singh SANDHU, 19 years old, of North Stormont, Ontario was charged under the Criminal Code (CC) and the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) with;

        •  Resist Peace Officer CC 129(a)

        •  Failure or refusal to comply with demand CC 320.15(1)

        •  Uttering Threats - Cause death or Bodily Harm CC 264.1(1) (a)

        •  Failure to stop after accident CC 320.16(1)

        •  Driving while under suspension HTA 53(1)

        The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Cornwall at future date.

 

 

Two individuals charged with fraud . . .

        The Stormont Dundas & Glengarry (SD&G) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has charged two individuals following a fraud investigation. On May 25, 2022 an officer received a fraud complaint from a local residence. A presumed bailiff had contacted the victim and claimed that a relative was involved in a motor vehicle collision with injuries and needed money for court. The scammer acting as a bailiff, directed the victim to withdraw money and made arrangements to collect payment at the victim's residence. Officers were able to intercept and arrest the individuals. 

        Jason GOULET-FERNANDEZ, 22 years old, of Montreal, Quebec, faces charges under the Criminal Code (CC);

        •  Fraud over $5,000 contrary to section 380(1) (a)

        •  Personating Public Officer CC 130(1) (a)

        •  Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence CC 465(1) (c)

        Danielle JIMENEZ-GOLEZ, 19 years old, of Montreal, Quebec also faces charges under the Criminal Code (CC);

        •  Fraud over $5,000, contrary to CC section 380(1) (a)

        •  Possession of Weapon for Dangerous Purpose CC 88

        •  Conspiracy to Commit Indictable Offence CC 465(1) (c)

        The accused persons are scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Cornwall at future date.

 

Damaging election signs . . .

        The Stormont Dundas and Glengarry Detachments of the Ontario Provincial Policewould like to remind the public that damaging or removing election signs can lead to charges under the Criminal Code of Canada. It is an offence to remove or damage official election signs. Further, according the Canada Elections Act, "No person shall prevent or impair the transmission to the public of an election advertising message without the consent of a person with authority to authorize its transmission."

       Surgeons at Winchester District Memorial Hospital were among the first in the region to perform laparoscopic surgery. And through generous donors, the WDMH Foundation has been able to fund the purchase of ten new Laparoscopic Trays.

        Each of the new laparoscopic surgery trays provides eight to 10 instruments for surgery, including scissors, graspers, and suctions. A second tray provides the trocars or tubes that the instruments travel through.

        These new instruments are easier to assemble and clean, supporting staff and saving time, all at a cost of $97,652. 

        Laparoscopic surgery is now considered a ‘standard of care’ for many medical conditions. It is minimally invasive, has been shown to reduce blood loss, decrease pain after surgery, and leads to a faster recovery. 

        “We have been thrilled to have been able to update our Laparoscopic General Surgery Trays," says Operating Team Leader Joanne Pollock, adding,  "These new trays will support compassionate excellenc." 

        Explaining further, Pollock pointed out, "Some of our laparoscopic instruments were quite dated and this money could not have come at a better time. We were having to send our instruments out for repair, and in a lot of cases, the instruments were unrepairable. So than you for this.”

        “Hospital surgeons tell us these trays are used almost every day in the Operating Rooms and without them, some surgeries couldn’t happen,” says Foundation Managing Director Kristen Casselman,  “We are incredibly grateful to the many donors who make possible these types of equipment purchases.”

Monday, May 16th - Are you passionate about making a difference and helping build safer communities within Ontario? During this year's Police Week, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is urging candidates who are dedicated to upholding the law and serving their communities to consider this challenging and rewarding career path.

       As hundreds of OPP members are eligible for retirement over the next few years, there has never been a better time to apply to the OPP. Whether you are interested in becoming a police officer, auxiliary member (volunteer) or working in a civilian role, the OPP has a job opportunity for you.

 

OPPortunites:

Uniform Officers

Uniform officers are trusted and relied upon to assist members of the public in cases of emergencies, day or night. During an officer's career, there are many opportunities to experience different specialized policing roles including technical collision investigator, scenes of crime officer and mental health crisis response team member, to name a few.

Civilians

Civilians are non-uniform members who provide critical support to the communities we serve. There are hundreds of civilian careers to choose from, ranging from positions in Civilian Data Entry (CDE) to roles within the Provincial Communications Centres (PCCs) as well as administrative, specialized and managerial positions.

Special Constables

Special constables are civilian members who have been given limited peace officer or police officer powers by the Commissioner for a specific job or task. Special constables have a wide array of roles within the OPP.

Auxiliary Members

Auxiliary members are dedicated volunteers who are trained to assist with frontline policing operations to ensure the safety of our communities. Volunteering part-time with the OPP Auxiliary Program is a great way to make a difference in your community.

        Candidates are encouraged to visit opp.ca/careers where they can find out more information about the above positions, the minimum qualifications, as well as instructions on how to apply.

         The OPP is dedicated to ensuring open, accessible, equitable and respectful workplaces, and is committed to reflecting the diverse communities it serves. We encourage applications from members of our diverse communities, including Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, women, persons from racialized groups, 2SLGBTQ+ persons, those who are able to speak fluently in another language(s), and anyone committed to a rewarding career in public service. The OPP is an equal opportunity employer and accommodations will be provided in all stages of our hiring processes as necessary.

About the Ontario Provincial Police

        The Ontario Provincial Police is one of North America's largest deployed police services with more than 5,500 uniform officers, 2,500 civilian employees and 600 auxiliary members. The OPP provides essential services that ensure the safety and security of the people and visitors to the province of Ontario.