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  • Resident committee to explore options for Pontiac Station property

    Resident committee to explore options for Pontiac Station property

    Bristol council has decided to form a resident committee that will be charged with exploring the various options for the future of the municipality’s waterfront property in Pontiac Station. 

    The 95-hectare wooded lot with frontage on the Ottawa River has been owned by the municipality since 1994 when it bought the property for $60,000 from Stone Consolidated. 

    Last fall, the municipality received an offer to purchase the land from the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). Now, after some public discussion of the future of this lot, council has decided to bring residents in, in a more formal capacity, on deciding what to do with it. 

    Meaghan McConnell, the councillor leading this committee, said it will be formed of approximately 15 Bristol ratepayers including herself, councillor Remo Pasteris, and Brent Orr, the newly elected councillor for Seat 4 which covers the Pontiac Station area. 

    “Council is looking for individuals with a variety of backgrounds, knowledge, and experience, including, but not limited to, life in Bristol, environmental stewardship, land use planning, heritage, community development, business, recreation, and other areas that may contribute to thoughtful discussion about the property’s future,” McConnell said. 

    “All viable options will be considered, including continued municipal use, redevelopment opportunities, partnerships, preservation, and the possible sale of the property.” 

    She said the committee will be tasked with submitting a recommendation to council that reflects, as much as possible, the wishes and long-term interests of Bristol’s ratepayers. 

    Orr, for his part, said he thinks the municipality should retain ownership.

    “It is a beautiful beach. It’s quite a few years since anyone was in there and logged it, so I’d imagine there are some very mature trees that could be harvested, but there is a lot of protected area in there also so I don’t know, with the new regulations now, how much we could do,” he said.

    “It is a good question for the public to comment on I think. [ . . . ] The committee will be a very small percentage of the population, so I think we’ll have to do some kind of a broader survey. I know a lot of people don’t respond to them but we’ll still have to try.”

    Residents interested in serving on the committee will soon be invited to submit an application outlining their background, experience, and interest in participating.

    Council will select committee members to bring a wide range of perspectives on the matter. McConnell said the call for applications will remain open for about two weeks once it is opened, and advertised in local newspapers and on the municipality’s website. The committee will begin meeting shortly thereafter.

  • Canada Day brings the heat

    Canada Day brings the heat

    Last week’s hot and humid temperatures didn’t stop a sea of red and white from spreading across the Pontiac as communities from Sheenboro to Alleyn-et-Cawood celebrated this country’s birthday. 

    Beginning in Quyon on June 30, the community came together to watch the parade, organized by the Quyon Community Association, before making their way to the waterfront for fireworks. But fireworks there were not, as dark clouds rolled in over the town, bringing with them a downpour. Also Tuesday evening, young drivers in Shawville’s annual soap box derby raced to the finish line just before the storm struck.  

    In Sheenboro the next day, the community gathered first thing in the morning for its annual Canada Day breakfast,  followed by face painting, live music and games, and a silent auction. At noon, the parade of more than a dozen vehicles and participants made its way from the town hall down chemin Sheenboro, which was jammed with onlookers in patriotic colours.  

    In Alleyn-et-Cawood, the municipality hosted several hours of fun at Henry Heeney Memorial Park, including its famous Danford Duck Race.

    Shawville, like Sheenboro, got things going early on Canada Day proper, with a breakfast put on by the Shawville Lions Club, a flea market, and a Ford test-drive event, both fundraisers for the Arena Fund, as well as a 4-H booth, and a parade at 1 p.m. 

    Otter Lake’s parade, organized by the town’s Recreation Association, began at 2:30 p.m. It made its way through town as another set of storm clouds gathered behind it, with many floats still pulling into the final destination at the RA centre when the skies opened to release another downpour. But to many patriots’ delight, the storm wrapped up just in time for fireworks to go ahead in Shawville and beyond.

    As is tradition, the annual soapbox derby put on by the Shawville-Clarendon Fire Department took place the evening before Canada Day at the top of Victoria Ave. in Shawville. Photo: Caleb Nickerson
    Two young soapbox racers were dialed in during their descent down Victoria Ave. in front of cheering crowds. Photo: Caleb Nickerson
    Members of the Shawville-Clarendon Fire Department were in position to put the brakes on the racers as they crossed the finish line. Photo: Caleb Nickerson
    Waiting for the Quyon parade to begin are, in the back, Lucas Lloyd and Hailey Lloyd, and in the front, from left, Colton Lloyd, Peyton Lloyd, Ava Baron, Alanna Lloyd, Bryer Lloyd and Ivy Baron. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Riding on the Quyon Family Centre’s float are Louann Gibeault (left), Sarah-Jane Kilbride and her daughter Scarlett Chaves (centre), Imane Drissi and her daughter Florette Sempels (right), and Deacon Helmer (back to camera). Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Blake Pope (left) and Jackson Renaud (right) catch a ride through town in the trunk of this car during Quyon’s parade. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Two young spectators watch as the Quyon parade moves through town. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Jack McCord, in his grandfather’s hat, rides shotgun with friend Harrison Greer at the wheel in the Quyon parade. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    The Quyon parade enters its final stretch down to the water along rue St. John. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Adley Richard rides her bike in the Otter Lake parade. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    From left, Beryl Smart, Dorothy Morrison and Elva Stark ride the Pontiac County Women’s Institute float in Shawville’s parade. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Young Leo looks on with concern as grandparents Johanne Gregoire and Michael Palmer race to finish their ice creams after the Shawville parade ended. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    The Smiley Brothers’ tractor makes its way down Main Street in the Shawville parade. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Among those riding on the Custom Tree Services float in Shawville’s parade were, back row from left, Laura Lemieux and Cooper Lemieux, and front row from left, Myles Gauthier, Prior Thomson, Kenton Lance and Sophia Lemieux. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Ron Annett drives an antique tractor pulling the Pontiac Historical Society’s float in the Shawville parade. The float was designed to honour women’s contributions to building the Pontiac over the decades, and to advertise the opening of the Pontiac Museum on the Shawville fairgrounds for the summer. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    From left, Lory Beaudoin, Lise St-Aubin, and Sarah Gravelle blow bubbles and wave from the Otter Lake 150 committee’s float in that town’s parade on July 1. Not visible is Colleen McAuley. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    From left, Otter Lake mayor Jennifer Quaile, councillor Robin Zacharias, director general Rachel Soar-Flandé, councillor Vincent Jones wave from the municipality’s float. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Otter Lake’s oldest residents, 94-year-old Mabel Kluke (back left) and her 93-year-old sister Martina Kluke (back right) joined one of the town’s youngest residents and first baby of its 150th year, Ivy Helmer, held by mother Kiesha Brisebois, for a ride in Otter Lake’s parade, escorted by driver Miranda Kluke. Photo: Sophie Kuijper Dickson
    Hotel Pontiac’s entry into the Sheenboro Canada Day parade. Photo: Caleb Nickerson
    Sheenboro’s Canada Day parade on Wednesday was led off by a piper trailed by a troupe of children bearing the flags of Canada and its provinces. Photo: Caleb Nickerson
    Sheenboro mayor Doris Ranger greets the crowd assembled in the municipality’s downtown on Canada Day, thanking the volunteers. Photo: Caleb Nickerson
    From left, Lynn Wilson, Pauline Lang, Aliah Fleury, Chase Ranger (standing), Glenn Ranger, Travis Ranger and Ron Wilson take in the Sheenboro Canada Day parade. Photo: Caleb Nickerson
  • Ontario man dies after single-vehicle crash in Litchfield

    Ontario man dies after single-vehicle crash in Litchfield

    A young man from Ontario died in hospital following a single-vehicle crash on Highway 148 in Litchfield Sunday afternoon (July 5). 

    Emergency crews were called to the scene, near 1198 Highway 148 at 4:30 p.m. 

    Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Sgt. Marc Tessier said Monday that the driver, 21, was transported to hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead later that day. The other occupant of the vehicle was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

    The road was closed temporarily on Sunday while police investigated the scene. Tessier added police have yet to confirm the reason the car went off the road, but said they do not believe speed or alcohol to be factors in the crash.