2022 YEAR IN REVIEW

January 5, 2023 · 0 Comments

JANUARY

• New fire truck put into service locally: Fire Chief Ralph Snyder and volunteer firefighters for the local department held a small outdoor ceremony last Thursday (Jan. 6) to officially mark the new truck being put into service. From outside the fire hall, firefighters teamed up to push the new truck back into the station as part of a “push-in” ceremony. Chief Snyder explained the ceremony is a long-standing tradition that honours the days when firefighters had to actually push their trucks back into the station after a call because they were wagons pulled by horses. The new truck will be replacing the local fire department’s old 1999 pumper. Initially, the fire department was approved to purchase a rescue truck, but due to various delays such as the shortage in vehicle chips and delivery dates pushed to 2024, the department chose to replace the pumper instead. The total cost for the new truck is about $588,000.

Residents will likely notice the different look to the new pumper truck, which is fire red amongst the fleet of yellow trucks that Shelburne has been using for many years. Snyder told the Free Press that the decision to keep the prebuilt truck red was related to cost savings. With the new pumper truck now here and in service, the oldest truck the Shelburne Fire Department has running is its 2004 rescue. Shelburne & District Fire Department’s fleet of vehicles continues to include two pumpers, a rescue, a ladder, and a 300-gallon tanker truck as well was an SUV and pickup truck.

• Dufferin OPP investigating homicide of local 65-year-old: Dufferin OPP have confirmed a death deemed “suspicious” in Shelburne over the weekend is a homicide. Officers from Dufferin OPP were called to a home on Main Street early Saturday (Jan. 8) afternoon to check on the well-being of an individual and discovered the deceased person inside. Debra Neale, a 65-year-old resident of Shelburne, was identified as the victim. An initial press release from Dufferin OPP on Jan. 9 deemed the death as “suspicious”. In an update, police said a post-mortem examination was conducted on Jan. 10 by the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service in Toronto and was officially ruled a homicide.

• Hanson given conditional two-year sentence: Michelle Hanson, the 38-year-old Amaranth mother who plead guilty to criminal negligence causing death in the 2018 drowning of her three-year-old Kaden Young, has received a two-year conditional sentence.

The courtroom heard on Tuesday that Hanson will serve the first 18 months of her two-year conditional sentence under house arrest. She will only be allowed to leave her home for certain exceptions including medical emergencies or appointments, in-person counselling, and employment confirmed and approved by the conditional sentence supervisor. Hanson will be permitted to leave her home each Monday between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. for ‘necessities of life’.

For the last six months of the sentence, Hanson will be able to leave her home, with a curfew between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. During the two years, Hanson is prohibited from operating a vehicle, with a three-year driving probation to take effect following the completion of the conditional sentence. Hanson will also be required to attend grief and substance abuse counselling over the two-year span, and during her one year of probation.

Justice Giselle Miller in sentencing said Hanson should be given credit for pleading guilty in her son’s death, thereby accepting her responsibility and expressing remorse. “I understand that it took Ms. Hanson quite some time to come to accept her responsibility in her son’s death, but she has done so,” said Miller.

Hanson was charged in October of 2018, and ordered to stand trial on counts of impaired driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death following a preliminary inquiry in 2019. Hanson plead guilty to criminal negligence causing death in November of 2021, and the charge of impaired driving causing death was dropped as part of the plea deal.

• Headwaters denies SIEU’s kitchen staffing allegations: Headwaters Health Care Centre and a union representing thousands of health care workers in the province are at odds after claims of a staffing shortage at the local hospital arose ahead of last weekend. On Jan. 21, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) reported a potential staff shortage at the Orangeville-based hospital after obtaining an email calling for “urgent staffing needs” over the three-day span of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Sharleen Stewart, president of SEIU Healthcare, said to deal with the shortage kitchen and dietary staff were being redeployed to assist the nursing staff. Kim Delahunt, president and CEO of Headwaters Health Care Centre, issued a statement on Monday (Jan. 24) regarding the SEIU claims, calling them “baseless”.

FEBRUARY

• ‘Freedom Convoy’ rolls through Shelburne on the way to Ottawa: Residents from communities all around northern Dufferin County flocked and lined the path of Shelburne’s main thruways on Friday (Jan. 28), as a convoy of truckers against COVID-19 vaccine mandates rolled through town on their way to Ottawa. The convoy of truckers associated with the Grey Bruce Freedom Fighters were part of a larger nationwide protest, known as the Freedom Convoy. On Jan. 23 hundreds of B.C truckers hit the road from Vancouver to Parliament Hill, to protest the federal vaccine mandate, that went into effect on Jan. 15. The new mandate requires unvaccinated truckers to quarantine for 14 days before crossing the border. Up to 26,000 or about 20 per cent of the 160,000 American and Canadian cross-border truckers are estimated to be impacted. The convoy of trucks that made their way through town on Friday began their journey in Owen Sound and passed through the communities of Chatsworth, Flesherton, Shelburne, and Orangeville before joining a larger group in Belleville and heading to Ottawa.

• Streams Hub awarded $18,000 through charitable fund: Streams Community Hub, a local youth-focused arts charity, has been awarded $18,000 through the first-ever Greenwood Family Fund. Streams co-founders Juli-Anne and Andrew James were presented with a cheque on Monday (Jan. 31) from Dufferin Community Foundation president Gord Gallaugher and executive director Michele Fisher. Launched in the summer of 2017, Streams Community Hub has been running seasonal programs for youth across Dufferin County focused on a variety of art disciplines that span music, theatre performance, filming and photography, visual arts, cooking and more. Speaking with the Free Press, Juli-Anne said the new funding will go towards supporting the move to year-round programming, specifically the costs for class facilitators and supplies. While the funding is a significant boost for Streams Community Hub, the grant also marks an important milestone for Dufferin Community Foundation as it is the first-ever grant awarded through the Greenwood Family Fund.

• Rohan Thompson appointed as first director of people and equity for County of Dufferin: Dufferin County has announced the appointment of their first-ever director of people and equity – Rohan Thompson. In the newly created role, Thompson will direct Dufferin County’s DEI strategy, policies and programs as well as ensure DEI is intentionally embedded into all aspects of governance, administration and service delivery. He will also oversee core human resource areas including recruitment, learning and development, performance management and employee relations.

“I’m honoured, excited, and a little bit nervous all at the same time,” said Thompson. “When you’re the first person in a role it’s an opportunity to lay the blueprint. I recognize that this role came because of a lot of hard work and advocacy from the community, a lot conversations internally at senior staff level as well as County Council, and I want to make sure it’s honoured.”

For more than 15 years, Thompson has worked in the public sector focusing on community engagement, equity, policy analysis and program development. In the past, he’s held roles with both the City of Kitchener and Region of Waterloo and most recently served as manager of workplace equity as well as assistant director of equity and community partnerships at the Peel District School Board.

• MP Kyle Seeback calls for end to ‘Freedom Convoy’: Dufferin–Caledon MP Kyle Seeback has changed his tune with respect to the ongoing “Freedom Convoy” protests in Ottawa, which call for an end to the cross-border vaccine mandate for truckers and all remaining COIVD restrictions. He said he agrees with the Federal Conservatives interim party leader Candice Bergen’s comments last Thursday (Feb. 10), that it’s time for the protestors to go home.

“It really is causing disruptions in Ottawa. There are small businesses that are not opening because of it,” Seeback told the Free Press on Tuesday (Feb. 15). Seeback attended the demonstrations in Ottawa on the weekend of Jan. 29-30 and said he was impressed by the amount of people coming together to voice their frustrations with COVID restrictions and lockdowns, voicing his support, but with the protest now in its third week, he says it needs to end. “I think the protest has gone beyond what I would consider to be useful,” he remarked.

• Muskies done for the season after loss to Ripley Wolves: The Shelburne Muskies are done for the season after losing their first-round playoff series against the Ripley Wolves. The series ended with a 9-2 win for Ripley in game four on Wolves home ice on Friday, February 18. After a regular season that landed them in the number eight spot in the standings, the Muskies had an 8-9 record and 16 points after 17 games.

• Melanchthon councillor serves mayor with libel notice: Tension is bubbling over within Melanchthon Township Council as a councillor takes potential legal actions against the mayor. During their meeting last Thursday (Feb. 17), Melanchthon Mayor Darren White said himself and the township had been served a notice of libel by Coun. Margaret Mercer. The notice refers to posts made on White’s Facebook and letters from residents in council agendas for public question period, stating they have been defamatory and malicious, resulting in Mercer suffering damages.

While issues for years have plagued the council process, the specific circumstance Melanchthon Council finds itself in stems back to a meeting in late January and has led to the resignation of the township’s planning consultant and a council member.

MARCH

• Emergency Declaration officially terminated in Shelburne: Almost two years after declaring a state of emergency in response to the COVID19 pandemic, the Town of Shelburne and municipalities across Dufferin County are turning the corner to normalcy. Town of Shelburne has officially terminated its Emergency Declaration as of March 1. A press release issued by the Town on Feb. 24 said the decision to terminate the emergency declaration was made following consultation with key partners including the County of Dufferin.

“This is in no way a signal that our collective efforts against COVID-19 are over, but it does highlight the fact that we are moving beyond the emergency phase of those efforts. We are able to take this important step because the vast majority of residents have pulled together and have done what was necessary to confront this unprecedented public health challenge,” said Mayor Wade Mills. “I am grateful for the resolve and commitment that has been demonstrated by so many throughout our community.”

The state of emergency was enacted in Shelburne on March 20, 2020, and provided the mayor with the authority to take action and make orders to protect property and the health, safety and welfare of residents. Shelburne is joined by several other municipalities in terminating the emergency declaration including Mulmur, Orangeville, Grand Valley, East Garafraxa, Mono and the County of Dufferin.

• Ontario lifting mask mandate after March Break: The Ontario government will be lifting mask mandates in most settings on March 21 and is set to drop all mandates by the end of April. Dr. Kieran Moore, the province’s chief medical officer of health, announced the new changes in a press conference on Wednesday (March 9). “We are now learning to live with and manage COVID-19 for the long term,” said Moore. “This necessitates a shift to a more balanced response to the pandemic.” As of March 21, mask will no longer be required in most indoor settings such as restaurants, schools, gyms, and large event spaces. However, the mandatory mask mandate will remain in higher-risk settings including public transit, long-term care and retirement homes, hospitals, jails, and congregate living settings.

• Dufferin resident leaves for Ukraine to provide aid: The horrifying images of war stemming from the Russian invasion of Ukraine has led a local business owner to travel to the region to provide humanitarian aid. Mono resident Nishan Kooner, who owns 10 and 10 Garden Centre, has been following the conflict since it started in late February and said he can no longer watch from afar.

“I see hundreds of thousands or millions of people and animals suffering because of the decisions of very few people,” said Kooner. “I’m seeing animal shelters being abandoned with 100 or 200 dogs, or even animal shelters where one or two [people] stay behind and their hydro’s being lost, and their pipes are freezing, and they can’t get food for the animals.

“The animals didn’t really do anything. They just exist, and because they exist, they’re going to suffer,” he added.

Kooner said 10 and 10 Garden Centre supports animal rescue organizations locally and seeing that the situation is more desperate in the Ukraine, he felt compelled to provide assistance.

Kooner caught a flight to London last night (March 16) and today he’s making his way into France, where he’ll road trip to Hungary from, before reaching Ukraine. A trailer will be hitched to his vehicle, which will be filled with supplies to give to the people of Ukraine. The trailer will also be used to transport people and animals out of Ukraine when he exits the country. Supplies are at the border of Ukraine in Poland, so Kooner will be travelling back and forth to get resources to those in need. Kooner is in contact with several humanitarian organizations such as Red Cross, which is transporting supplies into Ukraine, as well as Doctors Without Borders. He plans on connecting with other volunteers who he’ll be working with to provide aid.

• Convenience store owner retires after 39 years of business in Shelburne: For almost four decades, Bob Kim has been there for the convenience of the community with his corner store, a staple place to buy anything you needed from snacks to lottery tickets, to newspapers and magazines. Now, after 39 years in business, the owner of Town Milk and Variety has decided to officially retire, turning the local convenience store over to new owners. Kim and his wife, Louise, originally took over ownership of Town Milk and Variety in 1983 from Kim’s brother-in-law. At the time Kim was running a store in downtown Toronto but said they were looking to move to a quiet place with more open space. The couple’s plan was originally to retire and sell the business in 2021, but they chose to push it another year – just shy of what would be the business’s 40th anniversary.

“It’s been a long time, we’ve talked about it over the years and it just clicked,” said Kim.

Now that they’ve retired, the Kims are already making plans for what they’ll do with their free time, including travelling.

“Thank you to the community for visiting our store and making business without them we cannot succeed so I really thank the community,” said Louise.

APRIL

• Shelburne Legion, Branch 220 marks 90th anniversary: Shelburne Legion, Branch 220, marked a significant milestone in its history, as they were honoured in reaching their 90th anniversary. Five members from the Shelburne Legion – Liz Whitton, Dean Schroeder, Lesa Peat, Debby Hood, and Cindy Hewitt – attended the Royal Canadian Legion convention in Huntsville this past weekend, where Branch 220 was presented with a plaque to commemorate the branch’s 90th anniversary.

“It’s fantastic. We’ve been around for 90 years and we’re still going strong – we should be proud of it,” said Liz Whitton, president of the local legion.

“For the legions that reach these [anniversaries] it’s an amazing feat, especially through all the stuff that we’ve had to go through,” said Dean Schroeder, vice president of Branch 220. “That we are still charter and we’re still part of the organization I think is amazing.”

The Shelburne Legion branch was first established in 1931 by a group of local veterans as a way to come together, and Dec. 12, 2021 officially marked its 90th year. The numbering of legion branches is based on the order in which they were established meaning the local legion was the 220 to open. According to the Shelburne Legion, as of 2022 they have over 270 members.

• CDDHS Royals win District 4 championships: It has been a successful season for the Centre Dufferin District High School Royals boys’ basketball teams. The senior and junior teams both came out on top in the District championships this season. The CDDHS juniors won all three of their games, scoring 153 points while allowing only 68 points against during tournament play. for the Royals. The CDDHS Royals senior basketball team ended tournament play in second place after taking a single loss to Westside Secondary School in their first game of the tournament. CDDHS eliminated Erin District High School in the semi-final round of playoffs with a 67-38 win, to advance to the final. The final game had the Royals up against Westside on the Orangeville home court. The Royals capped the season with a 60-48 win to claim the District 4 2022 title.

• Shelburne Long-Term Care to receive major upgrades: Shelburne Long Term Care Home will be seeing some major upgrades in the near future as the province announces plans for a new facility. Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones was joined by local leaders and guests on April 8 outside of Shelburne Long Term Care Home, located at 200 Robert Street, to announce the province’s plan to provide 68 new and 60 upgraded beds at the long-term care home owned by Southbridge Care Homes.

“Our government has a plan to fix long term care and ensure seniors get the quality of care they need and deserve, both now and into the future,” said Jones. “This plan builds around three pillars: improving staffing and care, strengthening accountability, enforcement and transparency, and finally building modern, safe and comfortable homes for our seniors.”

The plan to add 128 beds at Shelburne Long Term Care Home is part of a $6.4 million promise by the provincial government to build more than 30,000 net new beds and 28,000 upgraded beds across the province by 2028. The current Shelburne Long Term Care Home facility houses 60 long term care beds and about 28 retirement suites. The plan is to construct a new building on a new piece of land, and renovate the old facility into 25 retirement suites. The project is expected to create around 50 to 60 full-time jobs in the town.

• County releases first annual Climate Action Report Card: April is Earth Month and to mark to occasion, Dufferin County has released the first ever annual Climate Action Report Card. The report card was released by the County on April 14, and provides a progress update on the implementation of the Dufferin Climate Action Plan.

“It’s really about keeping us accountable to what was promised in there because the plan was really what we heard from the community,” said Sara Wicks, manager of climate and energy. “It’s a bit of a checkpoint for ourselves and a point of celebration to see how far we’ve actually come. Climate action can be a little bit invisible to people so it’s really marking our journey along the way.”

The Dufferin Climate Action Plan was developed by the County’s Climate and Energy Division, publicly known as Climate Action in Dufferin, and was officially adopted by Council in March of 2021. It’s the County’s first comprehensive strategy to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by 2050, and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Using six focus areas, the Dufferin Climate Action Plan outlined 34 primary actions and 99 sub-actions for the County to take to achieve greenhouse gas neutrality and community resilience. The report card identified the status of each action and highlighted key initiatives from 2021.

MAY

• Local school getting new addition: Hyland Heights Elementary School has been approved for a new addition. The provincial government announced in a press release on Tuesday (May 3) that the new addition to the local elementary school would be supported by an investment of $3.3 million including additional funding of $600,000. The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) had been approved to award the tender for the addition. According to the press release, the newly announced addition will create 92 student spaces at the elementary school, which currently has a student population of 478.

• Headwaters celebrates 25 years at Rolling Hills Drive: Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC) marked a significant milestone in the hospital’s history on Tuesday (May 3), celebrating the 25th anniversary of their site on Rolling Hills Drive.

“Over the past 25 years, Headwaters has continued to grow and evolve to meet the changing needs of the communities we serve,” said Kim Delahunt, president and CEO of Headwaters Hospital. “We are so proud of our history of providing health care services close to home for our community and we will continue to adapt as we look ahead to the next 25 years.”

Among the attendees at Friday’s reunion were three instrumental people in developing the Rolling Hills Drive site; Nancy Ross, former president and CEO; Dr. Gord Willans, former hospital chief of staff; and Lynn Gibson, former mayor of Mono and hospital board chair. The Orangeville-based hospital has had a long history that now spans over a century. The first hospital in Orangeville opened in 1912 as the Lord Dufferin Hospital and came into existence after 53 women founded the Lord Dufferin Chapter of the IODE charitable organization and raised over $7,000 that was need to set up the hospital. During this time, they also established a training school for nurses. In January of 1993, Shelburne District Hospital voluntarily amalgamated with the renamed Dufferin Area Hospital becoming known as the Dufferin-Caledon Health Care Corporation. A new hospital opened at 100 Rolling Hills Drive on May 3, 1997 and in October 2002 was officially changed to Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC).

• Dufferin County resident helps investigative journalist uncover alleged coverup by RCMP in 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting: When a gunman in Nova Scotia went on a two-day killing spree in April of 2020, murdering 22 people in cold blood, there were many unknowns left in the wake. What was also unknown is how an Orangeville resident months later would help an investigative journalist uncover an alleged coverup by the RCMP. Paul Palango had been retired from journalism for 30 years when the events of April 18 and April 19 unfolded in Portapique, N.S. Having worked for the Globe and Mail for 13 years and in the years since his retirement written three books on the RCMP, Palango said he knew there was something wrong with the initial reports. Originally looking to help other journalists look deeper into what was being reported to the public, Palango eventually began covering the Portapique killings himself. In his most recent novel, “22 Murders: Investigating the Massacre, Cover-up, and Obstacles to Justice in Nova Scotia”, Palango breaks down the intricate details leading up to and after the massacre, and his reporting following the event. He also tells how a Facebook message from an Orangeville resident became a turning point in his investigation. While there are more than 1,700 kilometres between Orangeville and Portapique, N.S., the distance between the two communities shortened across the airwaves the night of April 18. “There was a lot of activity on the channel at the time and that’s what caught my attention. Once I realized it was something really horrific happening, I was freaked out. I listened for about two hours and I was surprised how much information I was hearing,” the Orangeville resident told the Citizen. Sitting on what they’d heard months before, the Orangeville resident said they were compelled to share the information with Palango because of the lack of updates and information being shared with the public and the victims’ families.

• Local diamond dedicated in memory of local ball player and coach: A local baseball diamond at Hyland Park in Shelburne has been dedicated in memory of a local player, coach, and fan who loved the game and played his last game in a 3-pitch tournament the night he passed away in 2011. Known as “Mr. Baseball” in Shelburne, Gary Galbraith, was a lifelong baseball player who started playing for the Whitfield Sr. Baseball Club as a youth. After moving the Club to Shelburne in the early 80s to take advantage of a field with lights, he continued with the sport. He soon joined the Shelburne Schooners. Gary became a leader for the club and in 2004 he took over the responsibilities of the team as a player and coach. He actively recruited young talent to join the club. In September 2019, local resident Paul Smith requested Shelburne Town Council to provide official recognition to Gary Galbraith for his service to Shelburne. Council agreed it was a worthwhile effort. On Saturday, May 7, family and friends gathered at the diamond in Hyland Park where the diamond was named Gary Galbraith Memorial Field.

• Amaranth Mayor Bob Currie breaches five code of conduct provisions: integrity commissioner: An investigation by Amaranth’s integrity commissioner has found that Mayor Bob Currie breached the township’s code of conduct following a complaint by a fellow council member. In a 17-page document submitted to Amaranth council, Principles Integrity, found the mayor breached five different municipal code of conduct provisions in a number of incidents dating back to Fall 2021.

The complaint was submitted to the integrity commissioner in January by Amaranth

Councillor Gail Little. In the complaint, Little claimed Currie had engaged in inappropriate bullying and harassing behaviours and had “exerted undue influence in the chief administrative officer’s exercise of her duties” while recruiting for an open municipal position.

In the three-month investigation, the integrity commission found that Currie had breached five code of conduct provisions. The breached code of conduct provisions including: • Section 2.1 (preamble) • Section 9.1 (influence on staff) • Section 14.1 (conduct during meetings) • Section 15.1 (harassment) • Section 16.1 (bullying) It was recommended a sanction be used against Currie, which according to the report is used to reinforced council’s ethical framework when education or acknowledgment is insufficient. The Integrity Commissioner recommended that the remuneration paid to Currie be suspended for 30 days. Amaranth Council voted on the matter and it was passed in a 2-1 vote.

JUNE

• Three Sisters Garden planted over the weekend: A plot of space in the Shelburne Community Garden is honouring the town’s Indigenous roots with the planting of the Three Sisters Garden. The Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle (DCCRC) and the Shelburne Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee gathered at the Shelburne Community Garden, located in Fiddle Park, on May 28 to mark the inaugural garden planting.

“It means a lot for us to share our teachings and methods,” said DCCRC Community Elder, Karen Vandenberg, member of the Otter Clan from Christian Island Beausoleil. “It’s going to bring awareness to how we can share our culture with Shelburne or anybody who comes to the garden.”

The Three Sisters Garden consists of three plants that are intertwined together – corn, beans, and squash. For many Indigenous communities, the three sisters represent the most important crops, both complementing each other in the garden as well as nutritionally. The Three Sisters Garden was planted during a specific moon cycle called the planting moon. All the plants from the garden were donated from the Alton Greenhouse and Garden Centre. The DCCRC will harvest the vegetables from the garden in the fall, at which time a Three Sisters Soup will be cooked.

• Sylvia Jones re-elected for fifth consecutive term: Conservative politician, Sylvia Jones is now serving her fifth consecutive term as MPP in Dufferin¬–Caledon. She holds one of 83 seats claimed by Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative last Thursday (June 2), giving the party well over the 63 seats needed to form a majority government. Jones was re-elected with 49.7 per cent of the vote late last Thursday (June 2). Runner-up Bob Gordanier of the Liberal Party had 18.8 per cent, Green candidate Laura Campbell had 14.1 per cent, NDP candidate Tess Prendergast had 10.8 per cent, and New Blue candidate Andrea Banyai had 5 per cent.

• Streams Community Hub celebrates grand opening of centre: As Streams Community Hub reaches their fifth anniversary within the Shelburne community this summer, the local youth-focused arts charity is also marking the milestone of having a permanent home. Streams Community Hub, affectionally known as Streams, celebrated the grand opening of its arts centre, located at 305 Col. Phillips Dr. in Shelburne, on Friday (June 3). “We’re excited for this moment, but it’s really just the beginning so we’re excited for what is to come,” said Juli-Anne James, co-founder of Streams. Launched in the summer of 2017, Streams Community Hub has been running seasonal programming for youth across Dufferin County focused on a variety of art disciplines including visual arts, cooking, music, theatre performance and filming. After years of running on a seasonal basis and utilizing local schools, Streams announced in July of 2021 that they would be opening their first permanent location, a 3,600-square-foot facility. The new facility means that Streams can provide year-round art programming for local youth.

• First off-leash dog park opened in Shelburne: Dogs in Shelburne now have a space they’re free to run around in off-leash The Town of Shelburne celebrated the official grand opening of the off-leash dog park, located at Fiddle Park, on June 11.

“As many of you know this has been under work for some time…it’s nice to finally be here and make this official. This opening marks the first of what will be many new additions to our parks and recreation complement within the Town of Shelburne,” said Shelburne Mayor Wade Mills. “This will be an ongoing project, what you see here today is probably not going to be the final iteration of the dog park. This will grow and get better and improve over time, but it’s a great start.”

The concept for an off-leash dog park in the community was initially brought forward by council in 2019, with staff directed to allocate funds for its production in the 2020 budget. The project was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was later re-introduced as a capital project in the 2022 budget. According to a report from September 2021, the estimated cost of the dog park was around $92,000. Site preparation and clearing began at Fiddle Park in April and construction of the fencing was installed in May. Additional landscaping and seating were added in late May. Amenities for the off-leash dog park includes a small dog section, a large dog section, picnic tables, a garbage receptacle, dog waste stations and 16 parking spaces.

• Police move from proactive to reactive approach in schools: Dufferin OPP: Dufferin OPP Insp. Terry Ward says police are facing an “uphill swing” as fights between students break out at Centre Dufferin District High School, two of which have been deemed “racially motivated”. During their meeting on Monday (June 13), Shelburne Town Council received a presentation from Dufferin OPP Insp. Ward. When questioned by Deputy Mayor Steve Anderson on the reoccurring incidents at the local high school, Ward informed Council of two incidents that had occurred that day (June 13), and added there is little police can do unless a call to service is given.

“There were two occurrences today. I hate to say it both appear to be racially motivated,” Ward said to Council. “I wish I had the answer for you on what the fix is to that – I don’t. Our hands, as police, are tied. As you know, the school board and elected trustees voted not to have us in the school or property unless it is a call for service.”

• ‘Potential general threat’ moved CDDHS students to remote learning for final day: Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) shifted students to remote learning for their final day of instruction last Friday (June 17) due to threats made against the local high school. On June 16, the high school issued a notice to parents informing them that the school had received information of a “potential general threat” and an indication it would be carried out on Friday. The information sparked an investigation by police and the school, however, they did not substantiate any potential threat. Heather Loney, communications manager for the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) said the decision to switch to remote learning for the final day of instruction was made to help ease some of the stress experienced by students. Tension has been bubbling over at the local high in the face of escalating incidents over the past week. On June 13, a fight broke out on school property amongst students following the use of anti-black language and anti-black slurs. CDDHS Principal Adam Rowden issued a statement following the fight saying he and the vice-principal had been in contact with families directly involved and impacted by the incident.

“I want to assure you that there is no place for hate and racism at CDDHS,” reads the notice. “CDDHS and the UGDSB know and understand that hateful language constitutes violence and causes harm.”

Students at CDDHS have since returned to the local high school to take part in a week of exams.