Orange Day

Roof Tiles & Empty Wine Bottles

Angela Parker Eco Update

SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT COORDINATOR CITY OF CORNWALL

Have you checked out our Riparian Restoration project? The provincially funded project is almost complete! A large chuck of the initiative took place in May with the planting of 350 native trees and shrubs near the intersection of Pitt and Tollgate. In August, Sustainability Assistant, Kim Bray hosted four public walking tours of the revamped area. The last stage of this project is to install educational signs along the existing bike path. Missed the walking tours? Check out the virtual story map. More information can also be found online: https://www. cornwall.ca/en/live-here/riparian-restoration.aspx.

Eco Day may be seven months away, but we are already planning for a larger event in 2023. Keep updated through the City’s Eco Update email newsletter. Use the link above to sign up.

Cornwall’s 2nd Annual Great Litter Clean-up took place on September 16. Last year the event was proposed by CFUW Cornwall & District. The turn out was great, so the City decided to do it again this year. During their lunch hour, staff picked up trash in Guindon Park and Bell Centennial Park. Last year staff pulled an old mattress out of Guindon Park. Roots of plants had almost anchored the mattress to the ground. This year, staff found many interesting items include a large kitchen knife, roof tiles, empty wine bottles, and an old decaying battery. Many thanks to the other organizations who volunteered their time to pick up litter in our community. You can see photos of this event on the City’s Facebook page.

By the time you read this, Cornwall’s Youth for Climate Action Working Group will have had their first meeting of the 2022-23 school year. We are still recruiting members from Holy Trinity, St. Joe’s, CCVS, La Citadelle, and St. Matthew’s. If you would like to apply, fill out an application form as soon as possible: https://www.cornwall.ca/en/live-here/youth-forclimate-action-working-group. aspx.

SVTC Celebrates Grand Opening of New Theatre

The first performance of Norm Foster’s Opening Night took place at the Seaway Valley Theatre Company on September 15, 2021. In celebration of the beginning of the 2022/23 season, there was a ribbon cutting to commemorate the grand opening of the new theatre location at 30 Sixth Street East.

“When they SVTC was founded in 2006, one of the first goals we set was to acquire a performance venue of our very own. Free from the restrictions, limitations, and costs of other facilities. Fifteen years later that dream came true when this building went up for sale,” said Lise Richer.

“As we continue to renovate and refurbish the building to suit out needs, I’m delighted to announce that the Seaway Valley Theatre Company has recently been given a $148,300 Resilient Communities Fund Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” she continued as the room broke out in applause.

Richer went on to explain that the new grant funding was used to install new house lighting on both levels of the theatre in July. The grant also funded purchase of a new 24-unit wireless microphone system, purchased in June. These new additions to the theatre will bring improvements to sound and lighting quality for theatregoers to enjoy for years to come. SVTC President, board members, and the mayor at the official ribbon cutting for the new Seaway Valley Theatre. L to R: Cheryl Snider, Jacob Pilon, Corey Disotell, Mayor Glen Grant, SVTC President Lise Richer, Lesley Ellam and Cathy Durham.

“Congratulations on your grand opening and on behalf of our city council and city administration… we would like to say thank you for the invitation and we look forward to the opening,” said Mayor Glen Grant, “Good luck on your performance tonight and we will be here whenever you need us.”

The energy in the theatre was great that evening and the cast put on a fantastic first performance. For more information and tickets to see Opening Night before the final performance on October 2, visit the Seaway Valley Theatre Company website: https:// www.svtc.ca/opening-night.html.

Orange Shirt Day

The City of Cornwall, in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne (MCA) and the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO), is proudly recognizing Orange Shirt Day on September 30, throughout the City. On Thursday, representatives of the CDSBEO, MCA and the City of Cornwall came together at the clock tower in Lamoureux Park in order to officially raise a banner to commemorate the day.

The Orange Shirt Day is designed to commemorate residential school survivors, their descendants and the children that never made it back. It’s also designed for Canadians to learn more about the impact that the residential school system has had on Indigenous communities throughout the country.

Orange Shirt Day: Every Child Matters grew from the story of one child, Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, whose grandmother gave her a shiny orange shirt to wear at St. Joseph Mission Residential School in British Columbia. On her first day the shirt was taken away and never to be seen again.

However, Phyllis is a survivor of Canada’s residential schools, and now her story is shared so that we all can better understand the legacy of these institutions in our country.

“We are proud to partner with the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario and the City of Cornwall for this great initiative,” said MCA Grand Chief Abram Benedict. “We also acknowledge the work that they are doing in order to recognize September 30.”

“Recognizing Orange Shirt Day is very important to me,” said Cornwall Mayor Glen Grant. “We need to do so as we continue our positive relationship with our neighbours in Akwesasne. Recognizing the negative effects that residential school have had on Indigenous communities and their residents is the first step towards Reconciliation.”

“This is our third year partnering with the City of Cornwall and Mohawk Council of Akwesasne to raise an Orange Shirt Day banner at the Clock Tower prior to September 30, as a physical sign of working together in education and understanding as part of the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario’s commitment to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” said Norma McDonald, Superintendent of School Effectiveness for the CDSBEO.

In attendance during the raising of the banner were members of the CDSBEO Indigenous Education Advisory Committee — Chair Kokum Brenda Rivers and Wathahiiosta (Theresa) Cook, as well as Romaine Mitchell, Indigenous Education Regional Lead with the Ministry of Education.

Cornwall residents can get involved by wearing an orange shirt on Friday, September 30 and learning more about the residential school system.

They are also encouraged to attend the Orange Shirt Day National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Community Gathering at Lamoureux Park on the same day, starting at 4 p.m. The event will feature the dedication and unveiling of orange “Every Child Matters” benches as well as the sharing of a meal and social singing and dancing.

To learn more about the Orange Shirt Day National Day of Truth and Reconciliation Community