Generous community members (who wish to be anonymous) have donated a bit of fun and colour to the park. You will find this wonderful surprise nestled in the trees close to the children’s playground. We are planning a “name the dog” contest with the two schools this fall. If you have a suggestion of our own, send it to me!
When I was elected Mayor in 2014, I had three main goals. They were: (1) Resolve the issues with the waste water system, (2) Improve the relationship between Town Hall and members of the community and (3) Enhance the perception of the Village of Westport outside the municipal boundaries. Goal # 1 has been accomplished and efforts have been made for goals #2 and #3. And when there is an opportunity to celebrate achieving one of these goals, I think it is important to share it far and wide.
On August 11, the Manotick Antique and Classic Boat Show occurred in our harbour for the second consecutive year. Staff worked hard to prepare for the show, which included hours of cleaning up the seaweed that has been a significant challenge this year. Hundreds of people made their way to the harbour to see these wonderfully cared for vintage boats. The weather was perfect, the boaters were pleased, the visitors to the harbour enjoyed themselves. It was a great show
I received this email on August 15 and have permission to reprint it from its author. Unsolicited and to the point. Congratulations Westport! We are a gem, a perfect diamond on the Rideau. And our people are among the friendliest, most caring and most proud of their Hometown. Awesome.
P.S. Thank you to our Harbour Master, Kevin Kardash.
Aug 15, 2018
Hello Mayor Jones:
When we decided to exhibit our Kavalk at the boat show this past weekend, we didn’t expect to enjoy our day as much as we did. The Village of Westport is beautiful and very hospitable. We spoke with many locals who were friendly and very proud of Westport. Even the tourists who attended the show were of a different ilk in their enthusiasm.
Another thing which jumped out is the level of Westport’s pet friendliness. We met and spoke to so many dog owners who were just too happy to share their pets history, and allowed us to pet and adore them. We saw and met more dogs than we can count. This was especially precious for us as we are still mourning the loss of our Minnie (English Cocker Spaniel).
We will be back in September and intend to spend the night so we can visit Scheurmann Vineyard and Winery and not have to drive the hour and a half back.
Regards and looking forward visiting Westport in September.
Tony and Marice (Kavalk Boats).
PS The dock master was also very nice and quick to welcome us to his dock.
Staff at the Harbour have been spending hours every day raking the weeds and pulling them out of the water. Most days at least 20 garbage bags of weeds are removed. It has been a very unusual summer.
The Village hires a contractor annually to cut the weeds and this year that occurred on Friday, July 6. The contractor removed the weeds from the water and delivered them to a local property owner who used them as fertilizer.
I suspect every home and business owner on the Upper Rideau this year has the same challenge. If anyone wants to help out at the Harbour, please contact Harbour Master Kevin Kardash. Or if you want some of the weeds for fertilizer, come on down to the Harbour and help yourself to a few bags!!!
Mark Herlehy and FOTA will be at the arena on the below listed nights getting things ready for the season. If you can give them a hand, you will find they are a very friendly, well organized group to join.
Work Bees
FOTA has scheduled work bees for 3 Tuesday nights in August.
Tues. August 14 – 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Tues. Aug 21 – 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Tues. Aug 28 – 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Anyone who would like to help out, please just show up, and bring some tools or paint brushes if you have them.
If you have any questions please give Mark a call at 273-3582 or 328-6049.
The past couple of days, you may have seen some work crews in the Village and wondered – hmmmm, I don’t recognize any of them. You would be correct!
Pastor Scott Roth of the Perkiomenville Mennonite Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania and a group of church youth were camping at Murphy’s Point and wanted to do some volunteer work in the Village. On Tuesday, they painted every one of the 44 fire hydrants in the Village. You probably have noticed the change subconsciously, and now will spot each one of the bright yellow fixtures! Yesterday, they worked at the Harbour with Harbour Master Kevin Kardash helping get things ready for the Manotick Antique and Classic Boat Show being held on Saturday.
Thank you to Pastor Scott and every member of the friendly (and hard working!) team. You are welcome back any time!!!!
Robin, The Mayor 
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