email: southdundasinbox@gmail.com
‘Student curiosity and learning would aid the group in bringing the memories of these soldiers back to life’, urged the plan, encouraging the students to dig deeply into the effort.
On becoming aware of the details of this program our interest was piqued when we learned the names of those students making the trip included a family member, which makes the project and its details all that more meaningful.
River Irvine was selected to join the group following the application process. He was partnered with school mates Declan Adams and Kiana Ferguson. River is a grandson to our sister Louise and Chuck Irvine of Morrisburg, and a son of Eric Irvine and Heather Reynolds. Which deems him a great nephew to ourselves.
River is a 15-year-old, Grade 11 student at Brockville Collegiate Institute.
In researching soldiers prior to his trip young Mr. Irvine chose to study Canadian Francis Benedict Barnes, a soldier originally from Brockville, ON, who participated in the defence of Hill 70 on the outskirts of Lens.
“There wasn’t a lot of information I could find,” River told us, “He was stationed in Edmonton in the 9th Reserve Infantry and sent to Belgium.”
Barnes died in action in 1915 and was buried at Lens, along with many of his fellow soldiers.
Hill 70, although left little recognized for many years following the Great War, produced six Victoria Cross recipients, two more than were awarded the valorous decoration at Vimy Ridge. The cost, however, was significant! The Canadian Corps suffered some 9,000 casualties, while German deaths and injuries was estimated at around 25,000. In 10 days.
“I thought it was all old people,” River pointed out after visiting the various cemeteries and memorials and studying the long lists of names at gravesites throughout Belgium, “But there were lots of guys younger than me!”
River’s new found awareness of fact said he was surprised at the ages on the stones throughout his trip. And he was quick to point out he had visited the Commonwealth War Graves Commission section of Wimereux Cemetery, where John McRae, author of ‘In Flanders Fields’ was laid to rest on Monday, January 28th, 1918.
Young Irvine made mention too of the section of Ieper’s Menin Gate listing all the Newfoundlanders lost in the battles around that area. He was also chosen to lay a wreath at Ieper’s daily, evening Menin Gate Last Post ceremony, a respect paid all the fallen each and every day that began on Monday, July 2nd, 1928, and has been held every night since, with the exception of World War II.
During Menin Gate Last Post ceremonies every evening at 8:00 pm, the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate while buglers of the Last Post Association sound the Last Post in the roadway under the Memorial's arches. The bugler represents an honour awarded specifically to the local volunteer Fire Brigade. The huge gate, spanning the roadway to Menen, is inscribed with 54,000 names of Commonwealth soldiers who died in the Ieper Salient during World War I, but whose bodies were never found or identified, 7,000 of them Canadian soldiers. An additional 35,000 names of soldiers who died and were lost are recorded at a separate memorial at Tyne Cot Cemetery.
Through his diligent research River Irvine learned that Francis Barnes' family had roots in Brockville, had attended the Brockville Collegiate Institute as a young man, and that Francis’ parents were laid to rest in one of the local graveyards in Lyn, ON. In following the criteria of the program plan to create artifacts to leave at headstones and memorials River crafted a small plaque which he carried to Belgium and placed at the famed gate during one of the ceremonies he attended in Ieper.
River also had been keenly thoughtful in bringing to France a tiny packet of earth retrieved from around the tombstone of Francis Barnes’ parents in Lyn, and he sprinkled that small but meaningful bit of earth on the battlefield where their son had fallen in France.
In completing his plan of learning and satisfying his curiosity, River Irvine scratched up a tiny bit of soil near the battlefield where young Francis Barnes’ had fallen in France and brought it back to Canada. He then travelled to Lyn, where he sprinkled that bit of earth on the graves of the fallen soldier’s parents.
“I don’t know,” River said when we suggested it was such a wonderful idea. He then added, “Maybe somehow he can be in touch with his parents again . . . or something like that.”
In composing this feature we drew information and photos from Wikipedia; Upper Canada District School Board; the Ottawa Citizen; River Irvine; southdundasinbox.com
Christmas Tea draws diversified ages . . .
South Dundas' Lakeshore United Church in Morrisburg celebrates the coming season
of Christmas each year with a tea and sale. While taking part this past Saturday
we noted the age of attendees has edged just a bit lower. We've posted a few of the
faces here, both participants and tea lovers, although some of those
pictured appeared to favour dessert trays more than the sandwich trays.
South Dundas' very best sunset season . . .
The full photo of the capture heading this page was snapped as we were hurrying
to the arena on Sunday evening to catch the minor hockey action, and just before arranging
the pans on the stove to create the dish that appears below. Both were exciting,
and both were a great way to kick off the best sunset season . . .
Playhouse new sign adds to Morrisburg’s busy landscape . . .
Saturday, Nov. 2nd - Sign of the times? Out with the old, in with the new? All of that and more. The Upper Canada Playhouse parking lot is constantly filled with audiences from far and wide who flock to see their season of professional live theatre and music. It now features a brand-new state of the art sign to keep everyone informed about about their shows and to keep those crowds coming.
The Playhouse staff, board and sponsors have made this new signage possible by continuing to attract audiences appreciating the theatre’s high standard of production, and by its investment in marketing these shows both locally but beyond. It also gives The Playhouse the opportunity to showcase its sponsors, and groups wishing to rent the space for their own functions.
"We’re proud to be a big attraction for our community and also happy to see both local and visiting audiences supporting our local businesses while they’re here," remarks Artistic Director Donnie Bowes, adding, "With so many entertainment options to choose from these days, you have to get your name out there. Maybe old-fashioned to say, but you can’t hide your light under a bushel.’
And what better time to celebrate this new addition to The Playhouse’s crowded parking lot than its recent 2025 Season Announcement, followed by its magical and musical family Christmas show Miracle on 34th Street!
Jr. Lions plan a second half 'wins' run . . .
Carson Turner turns away Westport's Owen McMillan in the opening period
of Friday night's game at Morrisburg Arena . . .
Saturday, Nov. 2nd - Two victories and 11 losses. And the half-way point of the regular season is just four games away.
Believe it or not, things are looking up for the Morrisburg Junior Lions. The injury parade seems to have wound down and the team put in a pair of tough games this past weekend, dropping a 3-1 decision to the 2nd-place Westport Rideaus on Saturday at Morrisburg Arena followed by a 4-1 loss to the 3rd-place Cougars on Sunday at Vankleek Hill.
Never an easy pill to swallow for the coaching staff in any situation, although those pacing behind the Lions are optimistic that the team, with another game or two, will have their timing back and the second half will be a turn-around run.
Lion’s coach Jamie Smith says his team outplayed the Vankleek Hill Cougars on Sunday evening over more than 65-per cent of the game time.
However, “Putting the puck in the net when chances are available is simply not happening,” Smith said, “We outplayed the Cougars and lost 4-1 which means they scored on our mistakes and we did not score on their mistakes.”
Coach Smith said the losses are not a matter of laziness or lock of effort on the Lion’s part.
“The effort is definitely there. As the injured players all get back and we get the lines and power-play working together again, all that is going too change for the better.”
The somewhat frustrated Morrisburg Coach posted out that the Morrisburg team suffered key injuries to key players which were not only exacerbated by slow healing but also a lengthy run in the regular season schedule facing top teams.
"We have a busy schedule of games against teams in our own division coming up," Smith said in answering questions concerning the second half of the year, "We're working to create an opportunity too turn this start around and secure a playoff spot."
On Friday evening at Morrisburg the Lions hosted the Rideaus in a very fast and exciting game. Westport showed up at Morrisburg Arena with 14-players and a goal tender while the Lions are back to 19-players dressed. Carson Turner was between the pipes for the home team and Coach Smith was quick to mention his performance as “. . . once again keeping the game score close!”
Spencer McCann, donning the pads for the Rideaus, was little short of sensational in Turning away the Lion’s consistent attack.
Josh Price, who the Lions traded in the off season to Westport, opened the game scoring on a power-play early in the middle period after the host team was called for too many men on the ice. Chad Carroll was credited with the assist. Carroll then set-up Ben Peladeau just one minute later, again on the power-play, to give Westport a 2-0 lead and Noah Cyr drawing the second assist. The scoring stopped as suddenly as it started.
The two teams played through the middle frame and into the closing 20-minutes before Westport went ahead 3-0 on a Thomas McLean burner from top of the circle. The Lions organized their move to the attack and Ben Lapier cut the Rideaus lead to a 3-1 count on a short-handed marker with Bennett Harty and Owen Fetterly sitting in the box.
In spite of both teams turning up the game speed through the duration of the third period, neither goal-keeper allowed any scoring through to the final buzzer.
The Rideau's Eric Judson helps to cover up the view of the puck and push the net away
from the goal-line in Friday's game at Morrisburg. Two goals, singled as 'scored' by officials
were called back on the advice of the linesmen during the game, one against each team.
The call of 'no goal' on the above shot is clearly correct . . .
Cougars out maneuver Lions for a 4-1 win . . .
On Sunday afternoon at Vankleek Hill the Lions kept the game interesting throughout although recording a win or a tie was not in their favour. The home team Cougars were first on the scoreboard when Alexandre Chenier notched the only marker midway of the first period with Maxine Laliberte and Jacob Crete picking up assists.
Six minutes into the middle frame Bennett Harty tied the count on a power-play when he beat Vankleek Hill netminder Tristan Paquette with assists to Ben Lapier and Hudson Fetterly. The Cougars roared back with a pair of counters in eight seconds, the first from Malcolm Sequin and a second from Sebastien Ouimet for a 3-1 home-team lead.
Vankleek Hill's Laliberte punched the Cougars count to four goals on a power-play mid-third period, the final, successful scoring play in the game.
The Lions are home to the Cumberland Castors on Friday, Nov. 8th in a 7:30 p.m. start. That game will be followed by an 8-day break before Morrisburg travels to Chesterville Arena where they will meet the North Dundas Rockets on Saturday, Nov. 16th at 7:30 p.m.
And that date, fans hope, will be the turn-around game for South Dundas' beloved Lions!!!
Hazelnut pasta with chicken Marcella . . .
Worth every second of preparing this recipe, I forever cheat on the Marcella sauce, adding twice
as much Marcella and twice as much chicken stock then cooking it down to the consistency
we find most favourable . The past is another story. Painstakingly cooked for 10-minutes
(calls for 12 minutes), drained saving some of the water, mixed vigorously with a good
amount of butter, tossed and tossed some more, a sprinkle of fresh ground pepper
to taste, and topped with pounded, skinless Hazelnuts. Served with a big girl's
glass of aged Amarone and garlic bread. Perfectly devine!
Monday, Nov. 5th - Upper Canada Playhouse’s newly announced 2025 Season will again offer audiences professional live theatre and music throughout the entire year. Over the past several seasons The Playhouse’s main summer season of comedies has been augmented with live concerts. Including in the winter, spring and fall and a family show at Christmas.
This lengthening of the theatre’s season has been very popular with audiences and has also increased the impact The Playhouse makes on both the local economy and tourist industry.
The 2025 Season kicks off with two winter weekend concerts. Vegas Knights, starring Playhouse favourite Derek Marshall, plays Friday, Feb. 7th to Sunday, Feb. 9th and takes audiences back to the crooner days of Elvis, Sinatra, Tom Jones, Dean Martin, the Rat Pack and more with anecdotes and gossipy tidbits on the lounge singers of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
Popular singer Leisa Way and her Wayward Wind Band follow with their sensational new concert Early Morning Rain-The Legend of Gordon Lightfoot. This concert of greatest hits from Canada’s favourite troubadour has toured throughout the country and lands at The Playhouse Friday, Mar. 28th to Sunday, Mar. 30th.
The Playhouse is offering a special show just for kids and their families Saturday, Apr. 12th when the famous DuffleBag Theatre returns with their rendition of Beauty and the Beast. Everyone gets involved in the production as audience members get invited on stage to star in the show.
Audiences are in for a treat in the spring when The Highwaymen, one of the theatre’s most asked-for concerts, debuts on the Playhouse stage Wednesday, Apr. 23rd to Friday, May 2. Featuring the biggest hits of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson, this blockbuster country concert is created by the producers of such Playhouse hits as Johnny and June, Glory Days and most recently Memphis to Motown.
The Playhouse’s flagship summer season will open with the world premiere of the brand-new Norm Foster comedy A Woman’s Love List. It’s a counter-point to Foster’s previous play and audience hit, The Love List, where two men listed characteristics that would make the ideal woman.
The Playhouse suggested to Foster that it might be time to flip this scenario and have two women look for the ideal man. He liked the idea and A Woman’s Love List will get its first production at The Playhouse Wednesday, June 5th thru Sunday, June 29th.
The hit comedy The Sweet Delilah Swim Club follows Thursday, July 3rd to Sunday, July 27th and audiences will enjoy the antics of five hilarious women who meet every year at a cottage to recharge their friendships, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives without their husbands.
Another classic Foster comedy, Maggie’s Getting Married, plays next Thursday, July 31st to Sunday, Aug. 24th when audiences get caught up in hilarity and chaos when a big surprise turns a family wedding upside down.
The summer season wraps up Thursday, Sept. 4th to Sunday, Sept. 28th with Hurry Hard, another new comedy that is taking theatres by storm. A men’s curling team are short a player for the big bonspiel and recruits a player from the women’s team. Audiences don’t need to know a thing about curling. They just need to be prepared to enjoy the hilarious ups and downs of this unlikely team in this fast-paced comedy.
Two of the Playhouse’s favourite funny guys, Lucien and Jimmy the Janitor, take to the stage in the fall with their brand-new East Coast comedy Senior Moments running Tuesday, October 14th, thru Sunday, Oct. 19th. It’s always a sell-out when this Maritime comic duo comes to town. Following their previous hits Fort Mac Attack and A Short History of Nuthin’, Senior Moments probes the mysteries and wonders of aging with one-liners and belly-laughter from start to finish.
The 2025 Season will conclude with the return of the Playhouse’s spectacular production of A Christmas Carol, Thursday, Dec. 4th to Sunday, 21st. Scrooge’s adventure discovering the true meaning of Christmas comes alive in a musical and magical production on a revolving stage filled with song, dance, special effects and all of Dicken’s legendary characters. The production sold out in 2022 and The Playhouse is excited to bring it back by popular demand for those who didn’t get to see it and those who wish to see it again.
Flex passes and single tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online, by phone or in-person and patrons are advised to book early to get the seats and dates they wish. The Playhouse also reminds audiences that their final production of 2024, Miracle on 34th Street, plays November 28th to December 15th. This classic Christmas story of Kris Kringle claim to be the real Santa Claus is the perfect family show for all ages and a perfect conclusion to another successful Playhouse’s Season.
Upper Canada Playhouse
613 543-3713 or 877-550-3650
U15-B Rep Lions capture 1st-place . . .
Lion's Captain Taylor Elliott attempts to sneak one past Rangers netminder
Owen Woodcock on Friday evening at Morrisburg Arena . . .
Friday, Nov. 1st - South Dundas’ U15-Rep Lions scored a win and a tie over the current weekend, moving them into 1st-place over all in the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League regular season action. The Lions continue to prove they are a scoring power to be reckoned with, netting a hair under six goals per outing while allowing slightly more than three goals against.
On Friday evening at Morrisburg Arena the Lions rounded up the South Grenville Rangers, an opponent they allowed five power plays over the course of the game. Net minder Linc Robinson turned away all of the man-advantage scoring attempts allowing only a single marker through the Lion’s pipes when Eli Limes snapped a Reid VanAsseldonk set-up into the twine.
Lion’s team captain Taylor Elliott led his charges through the challenge, setting up Grayson Casselman in the opening period and Daymon Julien in the middle period before netting his own counter on an unassisted play midway through the final frame for the 3-1 victory. Simon Martens and Jackson Dunning also picked up assists in the game.
The Lions next home game at the den is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 15th at 7:30 p.m. when the North Dundas Demons come to the den. Always a good one!!
Pioneering women first joined force 50 years ago . . .
OPP celebrates half century of inclusion . . .
Thursday, Oct. 31 - The Ontario Provincial Police is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Women in OPP Uniform. On Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, the OPP unveiled a new mural at an event for members to honour this anniversary at its General Headquarters.
"The Ontario Provincial Police is proud to celebrate and honour the 50th Anniversary of Women in OPP Uniform. By acknowledging the pioneering women who first joined the OPP 50 years ago, and the women who followed in their footsteps, we build pride within our organization, help to remove barriers to enter the service and inspire women to join." announced Deputy Commissioner Kari Dart, Culture and Strategy Services. "We benefit from the lessons learned from the women of the past. Taking the time to document and share their experiences is essential to the success of our collective future. It is the goal of the OPP to create equitable opportunities for people of all gender identities and to reflect the diversity of the society that we serve."
It was on Monday, May 27, 1974, that 15-women reported for training to the OPP Academy and one month later, they were counted among the OPP's provincial constable graduates on Friday, Jun. 21, 1974. By the end of that year, 39-women had been selected to serve as the organization's first female officers. Over the last 50 years, close to 2,500 female recruits have been sworn in as OPP officers.
"I joined the OPP in 1974 as one of the first 39 women who were hired as part of the 'policewoman program.' By 1989, I had been promoted three times - from corporal to sergeant to staff sergeant - and the number of women had risen to two per cent. By the time I retired as an inspector in 2005, the number of women was at 15 per cent. Today it's increased to 21.5 per cent, but far more women are needed in this profession." pointed out Inspector (retired) Irena Lawrenson, adding, "In order to be effective and progressive in this increasingly diverse world, police services must reflect the communities they serve. Someday I hope to see women make up 50 per cent of uniform officers."
Lion's Hodgson allows single in tie . . .
South Dundas' Miles Wells notched the only goal for the Lions in this game against
the Metcalfe Jets on Saturday afternoon at Morrisburg Arena. The Lions tied
the Jets in an end-to-end, 60-minute battle of net minders . . .
Saturday, Nov. 3rd - Caleb Hodgson has backed the U11-C House Lions to a pair of ties in their last two outings, the latest an exciting and hard fought exhibition battle with the Metcalfe Jets on Saturday at Morrisburg Arena. The game was hastily arranged after plans for a tournament fell through and organizers worked around some extra ice time to interested groups and teams.
The South Dundas U11-C entry has played three regular season games in the Upper Canada Minor Hockey League to date, registering a pair of losses against a single tie. That single point came after a 60-minute battle with the Kemptville Royals at Morrisburg on Oct. 26th.
On home ice Saturday the Lions and the Jets kept the fans on the edge of their seats throughout, racing up and down the ice only to face goal tenders Caleb Hodgson (Lions) and Brandon Bezaire (Jets) in this exhibition challenge. Both teams were consistently turned away in their scoring attempts on all but a single shot from each squad, both counters coming in the middle period.
The visiting Jets sharp-shooter Josh Neilson managed to slide the puck under Hodgson and into the Lions net midway through the middle period after taking a set-up pass from Hamza Hosni for the 1-0 lead. Five minutes later Miles Wells snared the puck in front of the Metcalfe goal, snapped a shot at Brandon Bezaire’s net and in the process tied the game at one each.
Each team was called on a single minor infraction although neither managed to take advantage of the extra player opportunity.
On Saturday, Nov. 9th at 7:00 p.m. the Lions host the 2nd-place North Dundas Demons in a game that will provide all the challenge either team wishes for. Mark you calendars grand parents, and get to the Lion’s den early - there’s gonna be a rumble in the jungle!!!
It's amazing how little things add up . . .
Over the past few months, there has been a donation bin at Sherry’s Store in Williamsburg,
front and centre so customers couldn’t miss it. Owner Sherry Mowat and her daughter Kayla Helliker
asked customers to donate their spare change to help build the new Dundas Manor. And they did!
“We have a great community and they stepped up for a great cause,” says Sherry. But things
didn’t stop there. Sherry chose to match everything donated by her customers.
And the grand total is $1,624!
“Sherry’s store is known for great coffee, delicious pastries, and anything else you might need
when driving by,” pointed out WDMH Foundation team member Cindy Ault Peters, adding,
“Sherry and her team are also known for helping out. They have been supporting
the Dundas Manor campaign since its launch!
Fall sunshine develops brilliant colours . . .
(Origin: USA forest services web site) - The amount and brilliance of the colors that develop in any particular autumn season are related to weather conditions that occur before and during the time the chlorophyll in the leaves is dwindling. Temperature and moisture are the main influences.
A succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays. During these days, lots of sugars are produced in the leaf but the cool nights and the gradual closing of veins going into the leaf prevent these sugars from moving out. These conditions – lots of sugar and light – spur production of the brilliant anthocyanin pigments, which tint reds, purples, and crimson.
Because carotenoids are always present in leaves, the yellow and gold colors remain fairly constant from year to year.
For more information contact: http://100southdundas.ca/
