email: southdundasinbox@gmail.com

A sweltering afternoon, on a slow breeze, at Mariatown Park . . .

100th Anniversary Celebration

Canadian Club, Morrisburg and District

Wednesday, Oct. 15th, @ 5:30pm - Dinner & Guest Speaker 

Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 48, Morrisburg

Information: Please reply to canadianclubmorrisburg@gmail.com

Ron Beaupre 613-543-3362

On Monday, Sept. 21st, 1925 a number of men, Morrisburg residents and business owners, gathered at the Department of Agriculture office, located on the south-west corner of Union and Main Streets, to discuss the "advisability of forming a Morrisburg Canadian Club".

         The Canadian Clubs web page offers the purpose of the organization is “To foster throughout Canada an interest in all matters of public concern in order to strengthen Canadian unity; to encourage the preservation and promotion of Canadian heritage and history; to increase the knowledge and understanding of Canadians for the peoples of other nations.”

        In a few short weeks, the Canadian Club of Morrisburg and District that was formed on that day so many years ago will see their current membership meeting a few blocks to the north and west as the crow flies. They will be celebrating the Canadian Club of Morrisburg and District's 100th Anniversary.   

         Gathering several times through every year of past 100 years, the group, unwittingly over that time, recorded an astounding history of who's who anecdotes in their meeting "Minutes" book. Through the Great Depression, war, the development, destruction and construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the destruction, moving and replacing their own community, the Canadian Club of Morrisburg and District has survived, and currently is seeking to expand their membership. 

        Those September 1925 initial gathering minutes recorded the appointment of a Secretary, "moved by Archdeacon Carson and seconded by Mr. J. H. Meikle, that Mr. George H. Challies be Secretary. Carried . . ."

        It was further decided in this meeting "to proceed with the organization of a Canadian Club; plan to hold five meetings for the season; and charge a membership fee of 50 cents and 50 cents for each meeting, a total of $3.00 per year payable in advance. Carried."

        Officers were nominated and named as Officers, including, President: Mr. W. Gormally; Vice-President: Dr. Davy; Secretary: Geo. H. Challies; Treasurer: A. E. Springstead; Directors: C. F. Fetterly, J. Gormley, C. Marsh, J.H. Meikle; Auditors, J. H. Meikle and M.J. Whitteker. 

        At the upcoming meeting of the current edition of the Morrisburg Canadian Club the list of Officers includes President: Anne Caza; 1st Vice: Leo Tessier; 2nd Vice: Miriam Wylie;  3rd Vice: Bob Weagant; Past Pres: Steve Caza; Treas: Doug Grenkie; Sec: Muriel Carruthers; Memberships: Ron Beaupre, 613-543-3362; Speakers: Jim Algire; and Directors: Cynthia Batchelor, Colleen Brock, Carol Goddard, Judy Tessier.

        Morrisburg's Canadian Club will present "an exceptional series of speakers through the coming Fall and Spring of 2026", according to a recent information pamphlet prepared by the group. The organization is intent on expanding their membership numbers.

September 17th @ 7:00pm: Diana Beresford-Kroeger - the author and presenter of a feature documentary, Call of the Forest.

October 15th @ 5:30pm, 100th Anniversary Celebration: Adam Shoalts - a professional adventurer and the author of five national bestselling books.

November 19th @ 7:00pm: Kristina McDermott & Cathy Ashby from the House of Lazarus - presenting "Building Community, Sharing Hope."

March 18th @ 7:00pm: Ryan Hreljac - a Canadian activist, who established the Ryan's Well Foundation to bring clean water to 1.5 million people in developing countries.

April 15th @ 7:00pm: Jeff Ridal - Executive Director of the River Institute, Cornwall will speak on the topic 'Communities for Rivers, Rivers for Communities'.

May 20th @ 7:00pm: Eliza Batchelor -  "One Child - The Hidden World of

Human Trafficking and how a better understanding can help prevent it".

        All six meetings through the season are scheduled for the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 48, at 10 Legion Steet in Morrisburg. And all six meetings are open to new members, visitors and guests at fees as recorded below.

        Seasonal Membership, which include six full course dinners and a speaking engagement (this year includes special 100th celebration) are offered at $225. per person. Visitors and guests are offered individual attendance at $50/per, with the exception of the October 2025 celebration event which has been set at $60/per.

        Corporate Memberships are available and include six meetings, 2 tickets for each, plus recognition in Canadian Club annual brochure, program and sponsor board, for a fee of $500.

Remittance: by e-transfer to: ccmd1925@gmail.com. Cheques to Canadian Club of Morrisburg can be mailed to P.O. BOX 3190, Morrisburg, KOC IX0.

Contact Information: Please reply to canadianclubmorrisburg@gmail.com or call Ron Beaupre 613-543-3362. 

Please feel free to visit: www.canadianclubmorrisburg.com

Note: As the meeting minute book explains, reasonably early in the existence of the newly formed Canadian Club, the need for larger quarters to hold meetings developed as the membership grew rapidly. The group was prepared to present 'dinner meetings' should such a venue be available.

        The Morrisburg Music Hall in the Merkley Block of Main Street, Morrisburg was almost immediately next door and was large enough to seat as many as 1200 individuals for a performance. Meetings were arranged and eventually a deal was struck with the owners of the Music Hall. Future meetings, 1928-29, were be held there, as shown in the accompanying photographs displaying the exterior of the building in the inset and the interior, 3rd-floor, Morrisburg Music Hall with the Canadian Club in attendance. The photos are the work of George Smith and are dated as captured between 1955 and 1957 (see vehicles in inset foreground).

        Through the 3rd-year of Canadian Club meetings the membership topped some 270-individual memberships with an average attendance of 190-persons. An additional 27-guests (non-members) attended the five meetings and 171 visitors paid admission to the balcony to hear the speaker of the day (no meal service). It is noted Wm. G. Hall was paid $5.00 (five meetings) to serve as the doorkeeper.

        A listing in the record of expenses offers the Lutheran, United, Anglican, Presbyterian and Catholic Churches were paid a total of $529.50 for catering the five meetings and serving some 1,085-meals! Three of the speakers presenting that year were paid a total of $30. It is noted in the record the visiting speakers did not pay for their meals.

        Sitting at the table, second table from right, counting the gentleman in the lower right corner of the photograph, the 5th individual to his left is longtime Williamsburg Township Mayor Johnny Whittaker and township clerk Casey Schell to his left.        

        Sitting at the head table, counting from the left including the half-face, is Morrisburg industrialist George Beavers. And the list of familiar faces is long. And that Weber piano on the stage, that instrument has found a home at Stone Crop Acres winery where, on occasion, talented individuals bring wonderful sound to life . . . 

      •  Additional information for this story has been gleaned from James Jordan's wonderful volume "Morrisburg, a history - c. 1784-1958' . . .

U13AA Lady Royals 2025-2026 - South Dundas' Ellie MacPherson

is one of a number of South Dundas Lion player graduates to

have advanced to higher levels of competition and play

out of area arenas. Please keep in mind these 

young South Dundas ambassadors are

promoting our community in the 

best way possible . . .

Now that's a beach chair . . .

Wednesday, July 30th - It's been a long stretch of rumours, promises and excuses that beer stores in Ontario would close. Various provincial governments have a contrasting history of sighting declining profits to promoting 'a buck a beer' around the existence of one of the province's one time profit producers.

        Earlier this year a number of The Beer Store locations went through the closure process and the popular product began appearing on grocery and convenience store shelves.  And early this week the announcement that The Beer Store outlet in Morrisburg would officially close on September 28th became a reality.

         On seeking information concerning the local store it was learned that as many as 140 stores in smaller centres and rural areas were on the block as competition with the availability of beer through grocery and convenience outlets was overwhelming the one time sole provider of the province's favorite refreshment. The majority of the convenience stores do not face the wage and benefit package costs that are being credited with the reason for the closures.

        Morrisburg's The Beer Store has one full time employee and several part-time personnel. The friendly face of Billy-Jo, the lone full timer, informed us she would be considering her options as the closing date approached, and, as a unionized empoyee, she may move to the Brockville outlet.

        The Beer Store owns the property located at the east end of the Morrisburg Mall.

Upper Canada Playhouse - Thursday, Jul. 31st - Sunday, Aug. 24th

Monday, July 28th - There's no better time for comedy and chaos than the night before a wedding when everyone’s nerves are frazzled! Norm Foster’s hilarious comedy Maggie’s Getting Married running Thursday, July 31st to Sunday, August 24th at Morrisburg’s Upper Canada Playhouse invites audiences to experience the tension and the laughter when the lights come up on a wedding rehearsal party turned upside down. The Playhouse’s third summer comedy welcomes audiences to the Duncan family kitchen the night before daughter Maggie’s big day where a small group of friends and relatives are gathered in the next room to await the groom’s arrival. Everything’s going to plan. The rings are safely hidden away. Everyone’s ready for anything. Except for a Big Surprise that turns the kitchen into a 3-ring circus! Maggie’s Getting Married is a classic Foster comedy set in a small town and involves everyday folks that audiences can relate to and often recognize in real life - those very traits that have made him Canada’s most produced playwright. It’s always funniest when audiences witness his characters getting into trouble and trying to wiggle their way out of it.

        Parents Tom and Cass Duncan are losing their youngest daughter Maggie to a young realtor by the name of Russell MacMillan who’s already late for the wedding rehearsal. They’re happy for their daughter but hope she’s absolutely sure he’s the guy for her. The arrival of Maggie’s older sister Wanda creates additional tension on this special occasion as she usually does. She’s the extravert in the family and her brassy shoot from the hip approach to just about everything only adds to the pressure of the upcoming wedding. Wanda is accompanied by her latest boyfriend, Axel Wilkie, a would-be actor who has already rubbed the mother of the bride the wrong way. Has Maggie chosen the right mate? Will he actually show up for the rehearsal party? Will sister Wanda behave herself during the event? Is the wedding on or off? These and other questions will arise as this hit Foster comedy unfolds on the Playhouse stage.

        Playing Maggie Duncan is Caitlyn Acheson who appeared in The Playhouse’s Miracle on 34th St. last season. She is a graduate of St. Lawrence College where she appeared in such productions as Superstars!, Wizard of Oz, Divas of Broadway and Seussical. She is also a member of a local band, The Townships.

        Mother of the bride Cass Duncan is played by Kathleen Egan Veinotte who is no stranger to the Playhouse stage having starred in several productions over the years including Leaving Marjorie Bliss, The Affections of May, Lunenburg and Steel Magnolias among others. An interesting side story to Maggie’s Getting Married is that both Veinotte and Acheson will actually become family shortly after the show closes when Caitlyn marries Kate’s son in real life. Be careful what you wish for! 

        Playing Maggie’s father Tom Duncan is another Playhouse favourite, Garfield Andrews, who has appeared in countless productions over the years including Chapter Two, One Slight Hitch, Don’t Dress For Dinner, Over the River and Through the Woods and Drinking Alone to name a few. Allan Cooke is Wanda’s boyfriend Axel and returns to the Playhouse after appearing in last season’s Bedtime Stories and also in past hits such as Who’s Under Where and There’s a Burglar In My Bed. Maggie’s sister Wanda is played by Melanie McInenly a newcomer to the Playhouse stage with a wealth of experience at the Stratford and Shaw Festivals as well as Theatre Calgary, Drayton Entertainment, Stage West Calgary and Mirvish to name just a few in productions ranging from A Chorus Line, The Sound of Music, Holiday Inn, Sweet Charity, Chicago, the US/Canadian tour of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and more. Also new to Playhouse audiences is Cooper Bilton who plays the elusive bride groom Russell McMillan. Just coming from a hit production at the Toronto Fringe Festival, Bilton has had a wide variety of credits from such theatres as Sudbury’s YES Theatre, Port Hope’s Capital Theatre and Toronto’s Video Cabaret.

        Maggie’s Getting Married is directed by Donnie Bowes with set and lighting design by Sean Free and costume design by Alex Amini. Bowes reminds audience members ‘Don’t bring presents to this wedding. Just your sense of humour. You’re sure going to use it!’

Maggie’s Getting Married

Thursday, Jul. 31st - Sunday, Aug. 24th

Shows TUE; WED; THU; FRI; SAT; SUN: 2:00 PM

THU; FRI: 7:30 PM

For Flex Passes, single tickets and more information contact:

613-543-3713 / 877-550-3650

uppercanadaplayhouse.com

 Explore summer with Canada Strong Pass

at Fort Henry & Upper Canada Village . . .

Thursday,July 24th - Beginning Friday July 25, the St. Lawrence Parks Commission (SLPC) is proud to participate in the Canada Strong Pass, a federal initiative and funded by the Government of Canada designed to make summer travel across Canada more accessible, affordable, and memorable. 

        As part of this program, Fort Henry in Kingston and Upper Canada Village in Morrisburg will offer enhanced access to two of Eastern Ontario’s most iconic historic sites: 

            •  Free admission for children and youth aged 17 and under 

            •  50% off admission for young adults aged 18 to 24 

            •  Valid Friday, July 25th - Tuesday, Sept. 2nd, 2025, at Fort Henry & Upper Canada Village 

        “Ontario is the best place in the world to live and visit. From iconic museums and galleries to natural beauty you won’t find anywhere else, our province has it all,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “With several Ontario institutions and attractions, including Fort Henry and Upper Canada Village, now offering free and discounted admission for youth and young adults, more families will be able to explore their own backyard this summer and make memories that will last a lifetime.” 

         “We’re excited to be part of the Canada Strong Pass initiative,” said Geoff Waycik, Director of Historic Sites with the St. Lawrence Parks Commission. “This is a great opportunity for more families and young people to enjoy a fun and educational day at Fort Henry or Upper Canada Village. These sites offer a one-of-a-kind experience, and we’re glad to help make it more accessible this summer.” 

        “There’s never been a better time to come visit Fort Henry,” said Kathryn Lowe, Fort Henry Manager. “Whether you’re seeing the Guard perform for the first time or coming back for a summer tradition, we’re excited to welcome more local families and young people to enjoy all the energy, history, and fun the site has to offer.” 

        “Upper Canada Village is such a special place, especially in the summer,” said Tracey Ogilby, Upper Canada Village Manager. “We’re looking forward to welcoming new and returning guests to experience the sights, sounds, and stories of 1860s village life. The Canada Strong Pass is a great reason for locals and visitors alike to plan a day trip.” 

        Guests who have already purchased tickets prior to this announcement and qualify for the Canada Strong Pass discount can simply visit the admission areas at Fort Henry or Upper Canada Village on the day of their visit. Our admissions staff will refund the eligible portion of the ticket price, ensuring guests receive the appropriate discount. 

        This summer, discover Canada’s story at Fort Henry and Upper Canada Village, inspiring, immersive, and now more accessible than ever.