email: southdundasinbox@gmail.com

And speaking of hockey, the Leafs, Jets and Oilers fans packed into Alaine Chartrand Arena

on Friday for the annual Battle of the St. Lawrence play-off between Seaway High

and South Grenville High Schools. The two games between the junior and

senior groups, highlighted at the break by a skating display, both went

to South Grenville on lopsided scores. Apparently something in the water.

Although we arrived late after patiently taking in a train car shuffle

just east of the arena, we did manage a few shots of the action.

The persistent Spring cloud cover is scheduled to lift today, warmer temperatures and

less precipitation is said to be moving along and allowing the grass to dry a bit.

The Algoma Harvester  appears to barely skim the surface of the

St. Lawrence River on a misty and damp afternoon . . .

Time to check up on the lawn mower . . .

In our day this property at Mariatown was the Fraser home.

The family operated a florist shop (still standing) in their back yard.

I recall visiting that shop with my father, probably around Mother's Day.

He never failed to buy Mother's Day flowers for his Mother and our Mother.

Returning to the car we were usually berated with a

"Hold on to these and don't let them drop on the floor!"

Our father was a bit of a softee, and all those threats of discipline disappeared along with

the breath it required to speak them. Our Mother consistently wore a smile on Mother's Day!

A very gentle, barely nudging reminder gentlemen!

Every Mother is deserving of being honoured on Mother's Day,

and every gift should be accompanied by live, colourful blooms . . . .

The Annual Pike and Pickerel Derby at Iroquois was well attended on Saturday, May 3rd

as fishers gathered to welcome in the new 2025 season and at the same time take part

in raising funds for Williamsburg Recreation. Winners are as they are listed on the photo above,

although we did not arrive in time to grab a winning fish. The group celebrated

a great day on the water, Minnow Byers walked away with the a generous

pot of gold on the half-n-half prize and Williamsburg Recreation

receives $1,600 on behalf of everyone  involved . . . .

Check out that sponsor's list, above, please.

Photos below: Joe Hummel - 1st Walleye; Jace Cassell - 1st Walleye, Kids

Eric Irvine and Jager Baldwin unavailable for photos

- photos Bruce Mullin

A much younger crowd attended Saturday testing the products at the Chamber of Commerce

Trade Show at Morrisburg Arena where a steady run of client possibilities perused products

and services. The Friday evening, Saturday event drew steady crowds according to most of

the display owners who added too that they were happy with the turnout . . .

South Dundas' van der Zweep family share a moment for a photograph with

Dutch Ambassador Margriet Vonno on Friday morning.

Left to right are Tina (Serviss), Greta (Roberts), Ambassador Margriet Vonno,

Bernie & Theresa van der Zweep . . .

Friday, May 2nd - The van der Zweep families who have farmed west of South Dundas' Morrisburg since the early 1950's were in attendance at the local Royal Canadian Legion on Friday, May 2nd. They were there to witness the unveiling of a unique plaque. So too were many of the descendants of local Dutch families who came to Canada around the time, marking the end of World War II.

        The colourful plaque is intended to serve as a reminder of the effort members of the Canadian military provided in eradicating the Nazis from The Netherlands. 

        On the same day, at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands, thousands of residents, visitors and veterans gathered to remember those who battled for freedom in that struggle. They were paying honour to the 2,338 Canadian soldiers buried in that cemetery, and to the 100 Canadians lost with no known grave.

        Several years ago the van der Zweeps sold a portion of their farmland to the owners of South Dundas' Iroquois based Swank Construction. The Swank family intended to develop some 200 residential units west of Stewart Drive at Morrisburg. The sub-division was named Dutch Meadows, and the streets were named for cities in The Netherlands. 

        History has recorded that 7,600 Canadians, including some 100 members of our own Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders, paid the ultimate price in liberating The Netherlands in that war. And on this day, this unique plaque, designed and produced by Cornwall's Pierre Giroux, was unveiled by Dutch Ambassador Margriet Vonno, surrounded by dignitaries, and military personnel. The plaque will be permanently located in Dutch Meadows, honouring those Canadians who took part in the liberation of The Netherlands, and those lost, including South Dundas' Pte. Wallace James Ace of Iroquois and Pte. Carman Russell Stanley Reddick of Morrisburg.

        During her remarks Ambassador Vonno extended invitations to all Canadians to visit her homeland, promising the respect and love shared by the residents of The Netherland mirrors that recognized by most world travellers who visit Canada.

        "We will never forget what Canadians did for us," the Ambassador said, adding, "Canadians paid the price for our freedom and it will never be forgotten."

Monday, May 7 - The gates are opening, the ovens are warming, and history is coming back to life! Upper Canada Village, operated by the St. Lawrence Parks Commission, officially reopened for the 2025 season on Saturday, May 3, welcoming guests daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Step back in time to the 1860s, immerse yourself in village life, and discover one of Eastern Ontario’s best day trips, with a uniquely Canadian shopping experience that’s perfect for Mother’s Day. 

        At the heart of the entrance is The Village Store, the largest gift retailer between Brockville and Cornwall, and you don’t need an admission ticket to shop. Open to the public, the Village Store offers ample free parking, is fully accessible, and is the ideal place to find thoughtful, locally made gifts and goods while enjoying lunch or a snack on-site. 

        This year, Upper Canada Village has expanded its commitment to showcasing Canadian-made products and small businesses. From sweaters and t-shirts printed locally, to plush stuffed animals from Canadian suppliers, nearly every item tells a story of Canadian creativity and community. With a large selection and prominent store placing this year, Native Northwest, a proudly Indigenous brand, from British Columbia, designed and developed in Canada showcases Indigenous art created by Indigenous artist. 

         “Our goal is to support and spotlight small businesses locally, throughout Ontario and even Nationally,” says Tiffany Montroy, A/ Manager, Retail Operations. “This season, you’ll find handcrafted products from Lyn, Casselman, South Mountain, Kingston, Waterloo, London and beyond.” 

        And don’t miss the famous Village-made goods: fresh bread baked daily is available in The Village Store around 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., along with bricks of cheese made the 1860s way, produced Tuesday through Friday and often selling out within hours. 

        Mother’s Day is just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to plan your visit. All moms receive free admission on Mother's Day, Sunday May 11, 2025. Whether you’re shopping for a meaningful gift, enjoying a day immersed in Canadian heritage, or sitting down for lunch with a view of the St. Lawrence River, Upper Canada Village offers a one-of-a-kind experience. 

        Support local, celebrate tradition, and start your season with a step into history at Upper Canada Village. 

        Tickets are available for purchase online at www.UpperCanadaVillage.com.  

        Purchasing tickets prior to arrival is recommended, especially for dates with special events. 

About Upper Canada Village . . .

        Depicting life in a rural English Canadian setting during the year 1866, Upper Canada Village is one of the largest living-history museums in Canada. It was founded in 1961 and features more than 40 historic buildings, many of which were moved to the Village from the “Lost Villages” to preserve them prior to the flooding for the St. Lawrence Seaway development project. Talented historical interpreters bring these buildings to life every day, recreating traditional trades, farming, music and 19th century social life – creating an immersive guest experience that makes every visit to the Village different from the last. 

Friday, May 2nd - The Tour for Humanity mobile classroom will return to four secondary schools throughout the Upper Canada District School Board this spring thanks to a continued strategic partnership with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Education.

        The Tour for Humanity is a 30-seat, wheelchair-accessible, technologically advanced, mobile human rights education classroom. This resource is organized and staffed by the FSWC and teaches students and educators about the Holocaust, genocide, and Canada’s human rights history through a variety of workshops.

        Andy Rèti, a child survivor of the Holocaust, will also be a guest speaker at five secondary schools in early May. An experienced speaker, Rèti will discuss his experience and engage with students in a question-and-answer session.

Students in UCDSB secondary schools regularly learn about the Holocaust as part of the Ontario History Curriculum. The Tour for Humanity is very popular and regularly visits schools across Canada. This is the fourth year of visiting UCDSB schools. 

        The dates for the Tour for Humanity and Andy Rèti presentations are as follows, and media is invited to attend:

Andy Rèti Presentations (10:15 – 11:15 a.m.)

May 5 – Almonte District High School; May 6 – Carleton Place High School; May 7 – Perth District Collegiate Institute; May 8 – Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute; May 9 – Athens District High School.

UCDSB - Tour for Humanity Schedule

May 26 - Seaway District High School; May 27 - St. Lawrence Secondary School; May 28 - Glengarry District High School; May 29 - Char Lan District High School; Workshops are held from 8:05 – 11:05 a.m. and 11:45 – 2:10 p.m. 

Friday, May 2nd - The Seaway Valley Singers have selected the recipient of their 2025 Student Bursary Program. Ethan Johnston of Iroquois was chosen to receive the $500 annual award, which aims to help young musicians continue to develop their skills.

        A student at Seaway District High School, Ethan has been accepted into the Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science program at the University of Ottawa next fall. Ethan plays drums and baritone saxophone, and he plans to put the money towards the purchase of his own instruments.

        Earlier this year, Ethan was also the recipient of the honour award for the Seaway Concert Band at the Capital Region Music Festival.

        The bursary will be presented at the upcoming SVS Spring concert, which takes place on Friday, May 9 at 7:30 pm at the Christian Reformed Church in Williamsburg. Visit www.seawayvalleysingers.ca for ticket information.

South Dundas, ON -  The Stormont Dundas & Glengarry  Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police has charged three individuals with possession of illegal drugs.  

On Wednesday, Apr. 30th, 2025, shortly before 10:00 p.m., OPP officers had a stopped vehicle at a RIDE checkpoint at the 401 highway On Route in the South Dundas township.    

        The investigation led to the seizure of suspected cocaine and heroin.

Location of mobile CT Scanner in WDMH's rear parking lot . . . 

Friday, Apr. 25th - Several years ago, Dale and Lois Keyes made a very generous donation to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital Foundation so the hospital's CT scanner could be upgraded. The new CT scanner will soon be installed, and that project will require several weeks to complete.

        During May and into June 2025 there will be changes to the CT service as the hospital will operate a mobile CT scanner while the new, permanent installation is being completed.

         On Friday, May 2nd, the mobile unit will be delivered to WDMH, where it will be temporarily staged in the rear parking lot,  requiring that a portion of the parking is required to accommodate the unit. Starting Friday, May 16th thru Monday,  Jun. 16th, the hospital will use the mobile CT unit to operate on the same schedule as the current service. Limitations of this mobile unit may necessitate that it may be necessary to send some patients to other hospitals during this time frame.

        “The process of acquiring a replacement CT scanner has been lengthy,” posted out Janie Desroches, Vice President of Clinical Services, adding,  “However, we are very excited to be able to upgrade this crucial piece of equipment and continue to provide excellent patient care to our community.”

Monday, Apr. 21st - Construction is going ahead in South Dundas' Morrisburg Industrial Park on David Hendrick's new Canadian corporation Alinova, a joint venture of leaders in the global soy industry. Hendrick, who resides in neighbouring Inkerman, ON, said the Allison Avenue location in Morrisburg was ideal. The corporation intends to combine knowledge and investment from both Canada and Japan in developing the new soy powder. The two partner shareholders, DJHII and Marusan Ai, are established and respected in their expertise.

        Processing soy in Canada adds value to Canada's soy crop, currently exported for processing internationally. Building on Japan’s already considerable soy market, this effort will not only help Canada capture new economic opportunity, it will also strengthen Canada's global presence in international markets.

        All from right here in South Dundas!

        Hendrick said the facility will demand as many as 20-employment positions to the local economy once the operation is running at planned capacity.

        Recent investments in South Dundas include two large residential investments in Iroquois and Morrisburg in addition to  a growing number of commercial and industrial community partners, a noticeable compliment to both the efforts of South Dundas' municipal staff and the elected council team.

Near perfect in the morning along South Dundas' Lakeshore Drive at Flegg Creek . . .