I have spent much of the morning visiting and talking with residents and business owners about the weather. Whalen and George St have some issues with storm sewers, but nothing that interferes with traffic. We are monitoring the different areas of the Village. After watching the news and hearing from others about serious flooding in municipalities nearby in Ontario and Quebec, I think we are in pretty good shape. Please call if you have information that would be helpful. 9195
In my travels this morning, I appreciated Les’s sense humour and thought I should share what was at the hardware store.
MPP Steve Clark joined Mayors Doug Malanka, David Nash and Pat Sayeau and me tonight in Merrickville. Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter was hosting the first of ten public consultations on “Strengthening Education in Ontario’s Rural and Remote communities.”. The message was loud and clear from the participants. This consultation is too little too late after the school closings announced last month and the Minister was urged to put a 1 year moratorium on school closings while this consultation occurs and recommendations are prepared and considered by the government.
Hopefully you are following Connected by Canoe, a group of men and women paddling from Kingston to Ottawa.
The canoe project, called Connected by Canoe, is about taking greetings and a message from the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough about the canoes—as an idea that connects Canadians to who we are and where we live in this nation of rivers—to the annual conference of the Community Foundations of Canada. The idea of this project is to show that the canoe can be a powerful symbol of ‘being in the same boat’ and ‘pulling together’ as Canadians. It’s a two part journey: an Express Leg involving one Voyageur canoe (16 people) travelling from Kingston to Ottawa; and a Ceremonial Leg involving three other big craft including a skin on frame umiak, a Haida-style Spirit Dancer from the West Coast, and a second big Voyageur canoe for a pre-conference paddle for delegates from Dows Lake to the Westin Hotel, where the Community Foundations Conference is happening.
The group arrived in Westport around 5:30 this evening and enjoyed a relaxing dinner and evening at the Cove. They are a wonderful group of Canadians, with the common purpose to lead conversations with others about what the future of Canada can be.
So glad James Raffan and the rest of the crew took the time to come to Westport. Safe travels to Ottawa!
If you have a few hours on Saturday, May 13 please consider helping us get the Village cleaned up for the long week-end! For the past couple of years, volunteers have spent a couple of hours sweeping and raking in the Village. The morning starts at 9:30 with coffee and baked goods at Town Hall when you register. And after a couple of hours, finish off with a BBQ at the Spring at noon. It is true that many hands make light work. Please bring a rake, bright coloured shirt and work gloves. We will supply the rest.
As the Warden of Leeds & Grenville, I am a member of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC). The Caucus includes all of the Upper Tier Wardens of Eastern Ontario and is an advocacy group for issues shared across eastern municipalities. Annually, the EOWC meets with the MPs who represent the federal ridings in eastern Ontario. This morning we met with these women and men in Ottawa and discussed, among many things, infrastructure. Our own MP Gord Brown joined the meeting. Also in the below photo is Mr Andy Brown, CAO for Leeds & Grenville.
MPP Steve Clark joined Mayors Doug Malanka, David Nash and Pat Sayeau and me tonight in Merrickville. Minister of Education Mitzie Hunter was hosting the first of ten public consultations on “Strengthening Education in Ontario’s Rural and Remote communities.”. The message was loud and clear from the participants. This consultation is too little too late after the school closings announced last month and the Minister was urged to put a 1 year moratorium on school closings while this consultation occurs and recommendations are prepared and considered by the government.
Robin, The Mayor 
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