countylive.ca year in review photos – January 2016
Administrator | Jan 01, 2017 | Comments 0
Countylive.ca will be going on holiday this week and will be updating at a minimum. We thank our readers and advertisers for their continued support and look forward to an interesting and informative new year! Please enjoy exploring the site, and these year-in-review photographs.
January 2016
- Prince Edward County firefighters demonstrated what it’s like to rescue, and be rescued, as they demonstrated ice and water skills and techniques at the Milford Winter Carnival.
- A new skating rink in downtown Wellington is getting raves from skaters. Michael Hymus, new owner of the property that last housed Midtown Meats, had the 12 by 24-metre surface built in memory, and tribute, to his father David, who died suddenly last September.
- Belleville Mayor Taso Christopher and Build Belleville staff addressed PE County Council to provide an update on the $20.7 million Bay Bridge Road Project which includes replacement of the existing four-lane structure on Bay Bridge Road which crosses over the CP Railway.
- Robin Baranyai, a member of PEC Syria, visited Picton Kiwanis Club members to update the club on the progress of the Syrian refugee families since they arrived Oct. 29, 2015. Approximately 150 volunteers joined PEC Syria.
- Sarah French visited Picton Rotarians to share stories about her adventure, with friend Mary Fehr, of biking their way across the country last summer, raising more than $320,000 for the GROW – Greater Rural Opportunities for Women – project helping rural women in Africa. Including matching contributions from various Canadian government initiatives, they said $3.2 million will help “grow” business opportunities to empower female soy bean farmers in Ghana, Africa.
- Mayor Robert Quaiff and CAO James Hepburn were among representatives of 13 County and single-tier municipalities comprising the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus meeting in Kingston. Priorities for 2016 included energy costs – natural gas to rural areas, affordable and reliable hydro; policing costs; cell gap coverage for Eastern Ontario and an economic strategy plan; leadership and a growth plan for eastern Ontario.
- Deborah Kimmett and Kim Pollard brought the house down at Mt. Tabor engaging their audience in powerful song and forget-all-your-worries laughter. Kimmett, a Second City comedy veteran and a regular on CBC Radio’s The Debaters, stormed the stage with hilarious and touching tales in a brilliant dance of storytelling and humour. -Lori Farrington photo
- Sixty-four supporters of the the County’s South Shore said “to heck with winter, we’re Canadian” and joined volunteers from Prince Edward County Field Naturalists and the Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County on a Winter Wonderland Walk. The leisurely stroll was along Hilltop and Brewer’s Roads and raised more than $2,400 in the fight to keep industrial wind turbines out of Prince Edward County’s south shore. -Caspar Raddon photo
- Just 15 minutes a day spent reading with a child, can make a world of difference. Prince Edward County families are celebrating literacy this month by reading together and sharing photographs to the Family Literacy Day PEC Facebook page.
- Predictions are that the new year should be a good one in Prince Edward County. The Rotary Club of Picton welcomed three prognoticators to speculate on the County’s prospects for 2016. Short presentations were made by Craig Desjardins, executive director of the Prince Edward Lennox & Addington Community Futures Development Corporation, Caroline Granger, vineyard owner and winemaker and Larry Ritchie, director with the Chamber of Tourism and Commerce. “The glass is half full,” said Desjardins. “But we face many challenges.” They are shown here with Rotary President Rob Leek.
- Prince Edward County Mayor Robert Quaiff is looking forward to a new year full of funding for infrastructure and continuation of work with neighbouring municipalities on common concerns. Welcoming the Bay of Quinte region’s new MP Neil Ellis to the County’s levee, Quaiff, to thunderous applause, noted Ellis “knows exactly where that funding comes from, how to get it, and how to give it to us.” He also welcomed politicians from Belleville, Quinte West and Hastings County noting the door remains open to build on the past year of respect for each other, and working together as the year progresses.
- Intrepid members of the PECI environment club, and a parent, joined Mark Read, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory’s NatureHood Coordinator for a “Kids’ Christmas Bird Count”. Like the traditional Christmas Bird Count, the event for youth gathers birdwatchers for a count, and provides valuable winter bird population data for bird conservation.
- Official changes to the size of Prince Edward County’s council and electoral ward boundaries were approved at Shire Hall. The plan, endorsed in November, reduces the size of council to 13 members plus a mayor and joins Bloomfield and Hallowell wards for the 2018 municipal election.
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