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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 46 Issue 10
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.10% 3 Year GIC - 2.25% 5 Year GIC - 2.65% Daily Interest 2.00%
Friday, March 8, 2013
Firefighters clash with OPP in hockey game for Camp Bucko
Munsch-kins on ice - Munsch Mania was the theme as the Drayton District Figure Skating Club held its 2013 skating carnival on March 1 and 2. LEFT: Senior skaters performed a routine based on the classic Robert Munsch story The Paper Bag Princess. ABOVE: Younger skaters work on their number during dress rehearsal on Feb. 28. photos by Patrick Raftis
GRCA signs new deal to sell power from Conestogo Dam MAPLETON - Revenue from the sale of power produced at the Conestogo Dam is projected to average $250,000 per year over the life of a new 20-year contract signed with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). The new contract provides an initial purchase price .0714 cents per kilowatt hour, states a report prepared by GRCA director of engineering Dwight Boyd, and received as information at the authority’s annual general meeting held on Feb. 28. The price is indexed annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
In his report, Boyd notes the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) Hydroelectric Contract Initiative (HCI) price of .0714 cents is more than three times the 2012 average spot market price of .0228 cents per kilowatt hour. A similar contract is in place for sale of hydro electricity from the Shand Dam generating station. Staff were authorized, through board resolution, to pursue power purchase agreements for Shand and Conestogo Dam generating stations. The new purchase contract is effective Jan. 1.
In December 2009 the OPA released details of the HCI program. The initiative allows existing hydro producers and suppliers to enter into 20-year agreements with OPA for the sale of electricity. The contract price is established at a rate of 6.9 cents per kilowatt-hour in the base year of 2009. Each year, this price is adjusted by the value of the CPI. A 20-year HCI contract was executed for Shand Dam in September of 2010. GRCA has been producing hydro power at Conestogo Dam since 1991. This hydro plant failed in the summer of
2004, and a new refurbished plant was brought back into production in September of 2006. Power from this site was sold to Ontario Electric Finance Corporation, (OEFC) under a 20-year contract that expired on Sept. 25, 2011. Since the expiry of the OEFC contract, power produced at Conestogo Dam has been sold on the spot market at the spot market price. To qualify to enter into a new contract with OPA for sale of hydro from Conestogo Dam, hydro metering upgrades were required. The upgrades were required to bring the metering at Conestogo Dam up to
current standards and satisfy obligations from the original 20-year contract with OEFC. “By establishing a firm price for hydro produced over the next 20 years, the HCI contract provides for a stable and predictable revenue source, and removes the uncertainty related to selling hydro at spot market prices,” the report states. While revenue is expected to average $250,000 per year, the report notes, actual revenue varies from year to year based on discharge from the dam. Revenue is higher in wet years and lower in dry years due to water availability.
by Patrick Raftis DRAYTON – It will be “Guns and Hoses” on ice, as Mapleton firefighters and Wellington County OPP officers face off in a charity hockey game here on March 23. Mapleton Fire Chief Rick Richardson says a team of about 15 local firefighters, himself included, has been assembled to take on the OPP squad. “I don’t know how many they have, but they played a game with the high school kids (a fundraiser for Mothers Against Drunk Driving involving Norwell District Secondary School students), so they should be pretty good,” Richardson noted. The firefighters’ team, which is planning to hold a practice session prior to the big game, will include some pretty good skaters, said Richardson. As for his own prospects, he says, “I’m going to put on my skates and see what happens.” All proceeds from the game, which begins at 5:30pm, will go to Camp Bucko, which provides an opportunity for children recovering from burn injuries to meet other children who share similar feelings and experiences in a camp environment. “We’ve given to them before and it’s a good cause,” noted Richardson. Admission to the game is by donation at the door. “It should be fun,” Richardson commented.
Youth centre plans Mud Run fundraiser DRAYTON - The Drayton Youth Centre is planning an event organizers hope will attract plenty of people to town on June 1. Inspired by the popular Tough Mudder events, the centre is planning a six-kilometre “Mud Run,” which will take advantage of the village’s picturesque river and trails. Unlike the military-style training character of Tough Mudder events, organizers promise the local mud run will be “a little less painful,” but will still include numerous obstacles and “definitely lots of mud and water.” The purpose, organizers note, “is to have a mess of fun.” It’s also a fundraiser for the Drayton Youth Centre. Registrants, who must be 14 or older, will receive a numbered bib and a kit with coupons and gifts from local businesses as well as the sig-
nature DYC Mud Run T-shirt and wristband. Participants who sign up early on the running room website will pay $60 until the end of March. The fee will be $65 in April and May. Anyone raising a minimum of $120 in support will receive $40 back on registration fees. Participants can also sign up as a team of four to eight members. Businesses or sports teams can challenge other businesses/teams to a friendly competition. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including
best outfits, most team spirit, most helpful, and of course, first across the finish line. “Sign up today and start planning and training for Drayton’s first ever mud run,” organizers urge. Participants may sign up at http://www.events.runningroom.com/site/?raceId=8809. They may also follow the event on Twitter and Facebook. For more information or to be a volunteer crew member contact Donna Hirtle at 519-638-0888 or Dahl Atin 519-638-3651.
Drayton Atoms in OMHA finals DRAYTON - The Drayton Defenders Atom Rep team beat Ridgetown 8-1 on March 3 to advance to the OMHA finals against Woodville. Drayton swept the series three games to none, also winning 10-1 in Drayton on Feb. 27
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and 3-0 in Ridgetown on Feb. 28. Due to distance, all games in the OMHA final series will be played on weekends. The series begins this Saturday, March 9 with a game at the PMD Arena Continued on page 2
Genealogy Day - Members of the Mapleton Historical Society spent last Saturday at the Drayton branch of the Wellington County Library assisting area residents with genealogy inquiries and research. From left: society members Lori Flewwelling, Debbie Oxby (president) and Jean Campbell assist Sue Bauman of Moorefield with some research. photo by Patrick Raftis
Weekly Wag
r ince I was fou s g in s ti c ra p really I have been t that wasn’t u b , ld o rs a e or five y fun. s just having practice. I wa sby - Sydney Cro
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