Tuesday, April 30th - The Morrisburg Junior Lions have announced changes to their coaching staff as preparations for the upcoming season begin. Associate Coach Steve Iwachniuk will not be returning to the Lion's bench for the 2024-25 season.

        The Morrisburg Lions celebrated their best regular season performance since joining the National Capital Junior Hockey League thru 2023-24, with sniper Ben Lapier and defensive specialist Justice Brownlee receiving league-wide recognition and prestigious awards.

        The team drew capacity crowds coming down to the end of the regular season, scored the south divisional titled lined up to meet the North Dundas Rockets in the opening round of playoff action. eventual winning the series on a 4-1 count.

        The Lions fans were ecstatic, a great sign n the way to a successful season, but unfortunately the team scored only a single victory in their first round against a cross divisional rival, the Vankleek Hill Cougars. Morrisburg won the opening game of the quarter-final series before dropping the next four outings to the speedy Cougars - and the rest, as they say, is not newsworthy.

        On Monday of this week Morrisburg Lions team President Kevin Casselman issued a press release announcing that change was in the works and that at least one member of the Lon's coaching staff would not be returning to the team. The press release did not mention Jamie Smith and Justin Shay, were also listed as part of the coaching Staff with the 2023 Lions.

        Casselman's press release announced that "after going through our end of the season processes and internal meetings, with a complete focus on and evaluation of our team, and in what direction we must take moving forward, we will be providing a number of announcements to in the coming weeks. However, for now we can share that we have made the difficult decision to make necessary changes in that  Steve Iwachnuik will not be returning as coach."

        “We would like to thank Steve for all he brought in his passion to the Lions.  Steve is a very good ambassador, and an even better person. We would like to personally thank him for his commitment and hard work over this past season in helping guide our Lions in bringing our organization to our best overall finish since joining the NCJHL."

        Mr. Casselman did verify that new faces will be introduced in the very near future.

       Between January 22nd, 2024 andApril 8th, 2024, there were 126 identified victims who lost approximately $739,000 to the organized crime group running the fraud. Of these 126 victims, 15 were re-victimized multiple times losing more than $243,000. Investigators have worked with financial institutions and the Canadian Bankers Association to prevent or recover more than $559,000 in losses.

       Alhough victims were located all across Canada, the majority of the targeted individuals live in Ontario, with an age range of 46 to 95 years old. All of the victims were provided supports and fraud prevention material.

        As a result of the investigation, 14 individuals were arrested and 56 charges were laid. A list of arrested persons, their municipality of residence and their respective charges is attached to this media release. 

        "Project Sharp has disrupted the activities of a well-organized crime group using the grandparent scam that has affected numerous victims across Canada. The unity between law enforcement partners demonstrated our commitment to stopping these crimes and preventing further victimization. Cooperation and intelligence sharing were key to the success of this operation." said OPP Deputy Commissioner Marty Kearns.

        Project Sharp is a JFO led by the OPP and involves support from the Sûreté Du Québec, Halton Regional Police Service, York Regional Police, Toronto Police Service, Hamilton Police Service, Peel Regional Police, Durham Regional Police Service, Ottawa Police Service, Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal, Service de Police de Laval, and Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario. Additional assistance was provided by United States Homeland Security Investigations, Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

        "Our dedicated officers tirelessly pursued justice in this complex investigation by working diligently to investigate, disrupt and dismantle the criminal organization targeting vulnerable individuals across the country. Frauds can cause significant emotional and financial distress to the victims, and our officers remain steadfast in their mission to safeguard our communities." added Benoit Dubé, Deputy Director General, Criminal Investigations, Sûrete du Québec.

        Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of the emergency grandparent scam or any fraud is urged to contact their local police, the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca. 

        Anyone can also report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. For resources on scams and fraud, visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.

Tuesday, April 30th - Community Food Share’s Fill-a-Bag food drive is ready to roll.

        To help fulfil their vision that 'no person or family in our community goes hungry', Community Food Share is heading for their biggest food drive of the year with the Fill-a-Bag campaign. Organizers are hoping to collect enough food to help the food bank through the summer months and into the fall.

        Volunteer drivers and their teams are lined up for routes in communities throughout Dundas and Stormont Counties.  On Saturday, May 4th, re-useable grocery bags will be delivered by teams of drivers and volunteers to most households in the villages throughout those counties. [Due to previous commitments, some bags might be delivered over that weekend.] 

        Then on Saturday, May 11th, those same teams will return between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. to pick up the bags - which hopefully will be filled with non-perishable food for the CFS food banks.

        As in the past, Community Food Share is hoping for donations of canned and dry goods – no glass bottles, please, for safety reasons – with emphasis on canned fruit, cereals, baking supplies and almost any non-perishable imaginable.      

        We urge you to check the shopping list attached to your bag. Thanks to a generous donation from Feed Ontario, we have ample supplies of pasta products. 

        The annual Fill-a-Bag food drive is the major event that stocks the food bank shelves. If you can offer your services for a couple of hours on those two Saturdays, either as a driver or a person to deliver the bags to each home, we would like to hear from you.  Please call our team leader, Jane Schoones at 613 898-0781 or leave a message at either of our CFS food banks in Morrisburg and Winchester. 

        We are unable to deliver to apartments or seniors’ buildings; however, those residents are invited to purchase a pre-made bag at a local grocery store.  Those bags will be counted in the Fill-a-Bag numbers the week of May 4 - 11. 

        Anyone is also welcome to send a monetary donation indicating that it’s for the Fill-a-Bag 2024 campaign. 

Tuesday, Apr. 23rd - Fourteen students representing Iroquois Public School Grades 4, 5 and 6 classes entered the annual Public Speaking competition on Tuesday, Apr. 23rd. Although all were celebrated as victory worthy, three individuals were introduced as the leaders in the art of organizing interesting information and delivering it in spoken words that kept the audience’s interest and attention throughout.

       Iroquois Lion’s Club Past President and Lion’s 41S Zone Chair Evonne Delegarde  sat in on the judge’s panel with retired school principal Scott Corden, both of whom spoke of the somewhat brave, confidence building exercise the 14-participants had taken part in. Lion Delegarde also made presentations on behalf of the Iroquois Matilda Lions including certificates and cash vouchers.

        Elise Urquhart, Andrew Clayton, Arthena Johnston, Corbine Henderson, Audrey Shaver, Dean Phifer, Ella Sikkenk,Jaxon Martel, Chase Thompson, Julia Meilleur, Sloane McMillan, Jack Stone, Olivia Evans, and Clara Robinson braved the steps to the stage to speak.  On announcing the judges scores Grade 5’s Andrew Clayton was awarded the Bronze Medal and 3rd-Place for his informative delivery on the top aspects of his visit to Niagara Falls. And Grade 6’s Olivia Evans scored a 2nd-Place Silver Medal for her topic on a family visit to Cuba.

        The top prize of the day, the Gold Medal 1st-Place, and the Iroquois Public School Junior Division Public Speaking trophy went to Grade 4’s Dean Phifer for his perfectly entertaining paper entitled “My Chickens”.

        All of the participating students received an enthusiastic round of applause from an attentive student body and a number of attending parents, grand parents, aunts and uncles and family members following the presentation, followed by their return to class.

Wednesday, April 17th - Dr. Francis LeBrun is quickly becoming a familiar figure in Winchester's greater community. He is a family physician at Nation River Health Clinic, cares for patients in the Emergency Department at Winchester District Memorial Hospital – and most recently, has accepted the role as the new Medical Director at Dundas Manor Long-Term Care Home.

        “Winchester is unique,” he says. “There are not many places where you can do all these things. I’m happy to be here.”

        As Dundas Manor’s Medical Director, Dr. LeBrun visits the home regularly and provides emergency coverage. He also works with other family doctors who care for residents.

        Dr. LeBrun says he is excited about the new Dundas Manor and what it will mean for residents and staff.

       “I’ve seen the plans and construction is underway. It’s going to be great. I even get my own office,” he laughs.

        Dr. LeBrun completed his medical training at the University of Ottawa and did electives in Winchester. He worked closely with Dr. Bart Steele, visiting Dundas Manor and working in the family medicine clinic.

        “This opportunity kind of fell into my lap and I’m grateful and excited for what lies ahead.”

        Born and raised in Winchester, Dr. LeBrun now lives in Winchester Springs with his wife, one-year-old daughter, a dog and a cat. His family still live in the area too.

        “They say it’s a small world and it’s true,” he says. “I have met patients who know my parents and even my grandparents. With my different responsibilities, I might see a 95-year-old resident who had just been hospitalized and then care for a newborn baby in the clinic. I like the fact that there is a little bit of everything in my practice.”

        Dr. LeBrun takes over for Dr. John Burke who has served as Medical Director for the past nine years.