Contracts Rescinded

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011 $1.19 plus 6¢ HST, $1.25 U.S. Printed in Canada Volume 1 18 Numbe r 6 INSIDE After spending more than two years concerned about the level of contamination in their backyards, Couchiching residents who live on the site of the former J.A. Mathieu sawmill will move into new homes beginning this summer. Families moving off soiled site She’s been compared to the likes of Bessie Smith, Ma Rain- ey, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald, but blues singer Sunday Wilde says she’s just a small-town girl working hard to share her music with the world. Area woman sings ‘the blues’ Following two consecutive rain-outs, the 201 1 racing season kicked into high gear un- der clear skies Saturday eve- ning at the Emo Speedway. Racing season starts in Emo See story on B1 See story on A3 See story on A6 By Heather Latter Staff writer To help address the need of pro- viding safe, affordable housing to aboriginal people living off-reserve, Wahkaihganun Futures Corp. yes- terday held the “ground-breaking” for a 10-unit apartment complex, which will be located at 237 Eighth St. W. “We have long recognized that the urban aboriginal population is growing,” noted Peggy Loyie, sec- retary/treasurer of Wahkaihganun Futures Corp. “And we are very excited over the current development.” The board has been working for several years towards developing aboriginal housing in Fort Frances. Funding for the new rental apartment is provided through the First Nation, Inuit, Métis Urban and Ru- ral Housing program being admin- istered by the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS). OAHS was allocated funds by the Ontario government. Several dignitaries were on hand By Peggy Revell Staff writer Rainy River District School Board voted 5-2 last night to rescind the changes made—behind closed doors—to severance packages of senior administration by the former board. While actual conditions of the contracts could not be reversed unilaterally, the motion was brought forward by trustee Ralph Hill so the public would know the current board was not in favour of the previous board’s actions. The controversy surrounding the severance packages first arose when the new board discovered in January that the outgoing one had amended the contracts in-camera at its final meeting back in Novem- ber. These amendments saw the severance package of both Education Director Heather Campbell and Superintendent of Business Laura Mills increased to four years’ worth of pay and benefits (instead of one and two years, respectively) if let go. Voting in favour of the motion at last night’s regular board meeting were Hill, Michael Lewis, Earl Klyne, Dianne McCormack, and David Kircher. Voting against the motion were Dan Belluz and Marg Heyens— the only two trustees to return to the board following last fall’s mu- nicipal election (with Belluz being the former chair of the board, as well). During the meeting, Belluz ob- jected to the motion, citing Rob- ert’s Rules of Order and arguing that it was not present on the given agenda for June’s meeting. But chairman Michael Lewis ruled against this objection, saying Hill gave notice of the motion at the May meeting and all trustees were informed of it. While Belluz said he accepted Lewis’ ruling on this aspect, he also asked if “the motion is in order,” pointing to Robert’s Rules of Order whereby “the motion to rescind can only be applied to votes on nay motions, with the following excep- tions: votes cannot be rescinded on something has been done as a re- sult of that vote that the assembly cannot undo; or where it is in the nature of a contract and the other party is informed of the fact.” “It’s a motion that you’re mak- ing, and possibly passing or reject- ing, that can have no value,” Belluz said, arguing that if the board wanted to make a statement, then By Zoey Duncan Summer reporter “My mom is going to die in Rainycrest. There’s no doubt about it.” June Caul is heartbroken when she speaks about her mother. At 87, Mary Caul lives at the local long-term care facility after a series of strokes prompted her family to move her there three years ago. But Caul has watched her mother fall into depression in those years spent living in a facility that is not equipped to support people who are well enough to clothe and feed themselves, enjoy taking walks on the lake, have strong, healthy memories, and who simply crave more independence. “I’m really frustrated,” said Caul, who tries to take her mother out of Rainycrest at least three times a week for visits. “And just really sad to think that this is what her life has to be. “She’s depressed all the time and she is able to do more than what goes on there, and it breaks my heart to see her so sad and she hates it in there.” Wayne Woods, CEO of River- side Health Care Facilities, Inc., acknowledged that Rainycrest and other local health services cur- rently can’t meet all the needs of the aging community. “Obviously, there is definitely a need in the community. I think people are recognizing that,” he re- marked. “Right now, your options are the hospital long-term care or try and do some home care. “But there has to be a different level for people that just need a little bit of assistance,” Woods con- ceded. Locally, 18.9 percent of the population is over age 65, compared to 13.7 percent of Canada’s population, according to the 2006 census. And 37 percent of the population here—3,035 individuals as of 2006—is over 50. Many local seniors and their families will, at some point, have to face the decision of what kind of care they need to live healthy and happy lives as they age and their needs change. Provincially, the government has encouraged programs that keep people living in their own homes longer, such as the billion-dollar “Aging At Home Strategy,” which, according to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term care, aims to en- sure that “seniors’ homes support them, that seniors have supportive social environments, that senior- centered care is easy to access, and identifying innovative solutions to keep seniors healthy.” The local Assisted Living Action Group is hoping to make a new option available here—a place for people like Mary Caul who no longer can live safely alone in their homes but who are capable of many independent activities. “People have left Fort Frances and the district because there is With prayers and thanks, participants in the annual “Mother Earth Water Walk” offered tobacco last Wednesday afternoon to the waters at the Ranier rapids, where Rainy Lake flows into the Rainy River. The walk—which has seen a copper pail filled with water from the Hudson Bay travelling by foot southwards— passed through the district on its way to Bad River, Wis., where walkers carrying water from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico will meet up on the shores of Lake Superior. See story, more photos on A2. —Peggy Revell photo Celebrating water Scott Jolicoeur tried out the pilot seat of Pat- rick Langevin’s Grumman Tiger four-seater plane Saturday during the 12th-annual “Fly- in, Drive-in BBQ” at the Fort Frances Airport. The event—designed to showcase the local airport by having private pilots fly in here for the day—featured a number of planes as well as antique cars and motorcycles. —Heather Latter photo At the controls Elderly in need of more care here School board rescinds contract changes Native housing project launched Please see “Elderly,” A5 Please see “Native,” A5 Please see “Trustees,” A5

Contracts Rescinded

Documents