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April 24, 2014 | 76 pages
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NEWS
By HOWAIDA SOROUR and LAURIE WEIR ljweir@metroland.com
The hospital CEO is pleased to see the budget in the black. — PageSF1
COMMUNITY
Photo by TARA GESNER
Canadians edge Bears for Bogart Cup Sports – Smiths Falls Jr. A Bears assistant coach Walt Dubas (left) congratulates Jason Clarke, head coach of the Carleton Place Canadians Sunday after the Canadians defeated the Bears in overtime to win the Bogart Cup. See inside for more. Mason Stewart’s family is busy with plans for SMA fundraiser. — Page SF7
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Service remembers workers killed on job By HOWAIDA SOROUR hsorour@perfprint.ca
Community - In 1973, Ronald Craig, who lived and grew up in Smiths Falls, was 23 years old and had just landed a job with Canadian Pacific. It was his first day on the job with Bridges and Buildings and he was sent to Carleton Place as part of the crew fixing the rail bridge. As it happened Ontario Hydro was also doing repair work on the dam in Carleton Place, so the water levels were very low exposing the rocks below the rail bridge. “Ronald went to pull out a rail spike and lost his balance and fell off the bridge onto the rocks,” said Ken Lee his brother-in-law. He was killed instantly. On April 28, as part of the National Day of Mourning in Smiths Falls, a new plaque in memory of Ronald Craig will be unveiled at the Memorial Park Cenotaph at 7 p.m. Sadly, Lee says, he may not be able to attend the ceremony this year as he is scheduled for surgery at that time. There have over the years been 12 Smiths Falls
residents killed on the job according to Danny Whitmore of the Lanark District Labour Council. “The youngest was 18 years old and a summer student working for the Ministry of Natural Resources,” said Whitmore. The annual event is held every April as a continuing reminder of the Labour Council’s work to ensure that workers return home healthy and whole every day. The Monday evening event will include Erin Harrison, of the Canadian Labour Congress as the guest speaker and will be attended by Mayor Dennis Staples. The colour party from the Royal Canadian Legion Smiths Falls Branch 95, will take part in the ceremony and Paul Smith will play the Last Post at the gathering. “We usually see about 60 to 100 people in Smiths Falls, and we do have some chairs set up and a bit of cover in case it rains,” said Whitmore. Every name on the Smiths Falls plaque will be mentioned and family members will have the opportunity to place a flower or wreath in memory of their lost one at the cenotaph.
News - It’s a highly contentious issue right now with many residents for and against the idea of demolishing the house at 140 Elmsley St., N. In fact a petition to save the house has been started by Brian Paquette, mayoral candidate and owner of Zendragon Martial Arts and Fitness. “I’m not trying to undermine anybody, I just think there’s an option here for a win-win scenario,” said Paquette, adding that demolishing the house will cost taxpayers while selling it could recoup costs. The town purchased the property some years ago with the intent to clean up the corner, paying a fair price for the privilege. “140 Elmsley Street North was purchased in 2009 for $130,000,” confirmed Lynda McKimm, manager, planning and sustainable growth with the town. The argument to demolish it revolves around its current condition, and the proposed Rink of Dreams. “I have always felt that, with construction of the new arena and the demolition of the old one, the house was an eyesore, and I have grave doubts as well that the $87,000 quoted for refurbishment would cover the costs. Now that the Senators Foundation and the Gerry Lowe Foundation are making a significant investment in the Rink of Dreams, it makes even more sense to remove the house. This will free up space for future development of this exciting project,” said Coun. Jay Brennan. He added that the house was originally purchased with demolition in mind and demolition was staff’s recommendation as recently as April 14, 2014, at the regular committee-of-the-whole meeting. The issue of whether to tear down the building or keep it has divided council now for about three years according to Coun. Shawn Pankow. In 2013, the final decision on the fate of the property was deferred and this year, there isn’t enough money in the budget to save or demolish it. Discussion at council on April 14 saw four councillors intent on demolition versus three arguing for repurposing the property. “I have a hard time understanding why the demolition is such a priority now. It has been vacant since the town bought it, we have no money in the budget for the demolition and landscaping of the site and should exhaust all possibilities before rushing to spend money we don’t have right now,” said Pankow. As far as the Rink of Dreams there is no pressure one way or another. They don’t have any use for the building itself but keeping it there will not affect the completion of the rink. “Either way we’re flexible, but if the property is torn down, we’ll do everything in our power to incorporate the landscaping and the corner into our plan for the Rink of Dreams with the town’s permission,” said Rob Garvin, real estate agent and member of the Gerry Lowe Memorial Foundation. According to Joe Gallipeau, board member of the Smiths Falls & District Chamber of Commerce and part of the strategic planning committee, he’d like to see the chamber move to that space. “The chamber of commerce would have an agreement with the Town of Smiths Falls to utilize the building as a Chamber of Commerce ‘Welcome Centre’for the Town of Smiths Falls, as it is an ideal location, centrally located at the main artery of Smiths Falls,” Gallipeau said. “The $35,000 tear-down cost could then be donated to the chamber for renovations and the balance could come from in-kind-donations and funding from agencies such as Valley Heartland, or other funding opportunities.”
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