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Article contentIf you’re ever bitten by the chuckwagon racing bug
the ensuing symptoms have been known to last for multiple generations
The affable veteran driver is gearing up for another World Professional Chuckwagon Association season that begins May 28-June 1 with the Grande Prairie Stompede
father Garry and uncle Dallas did before him
I don’t think you’ll ever get that out of anybody,” Dorchester says
“The politics and stuff gets harder to listen to
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“But the sport itself, if you’ve ever drove, you’ll always like the race part of it and figuring out that outfit that might be the next one you can win with.”
And that’s exactly what the 52-year-old is focused on.
He’s got his teams figured out for his trips off the No. 3 and No. 4 barrels. The other two barrels are a work in progress.
“I can win a day money with the short-barrel outfit,” Dorchester says. “I won a day money in Calgary and had a bunch of top fives last year.
“You can have the best horse on paper, but if they don’t start and help you get out of the barrels … That’s where I am with the one- and two-barrel outfit. They don’t fire on the horn, they hesitate but they run hard and come home.
“But if you’re getting out-turned off of one, you have to drive around or through everybody. So I’m looking for three of those six (new horses) to work into the lineup.”
The half-dozen newcomers — one from Century Downs and the other five from Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse — have been going through the sport’s equivalent of training camp for a number of weeks.
“They look good, but we haven’t gotten into (teams of) fours yet,” Dorchester says. “There driving good in twos right now, so that’s good. That usually means they’ll drive good in fours too.
Dorchester, who began his career on the WPCA circuit in 1993, has always trotted out powerful, hard-charging teams that often bring race fans out of their seats as he thunders down the lane towards the finish line.
But he says it’s hard to get an accurate read on a new horse until he’s got a few races under his bridle.
“You try to find something that has early speed, but can still win at the mile, that’s what I like,” Dorchester says. “Lots of guys went to the speed horses for five furlongs because Calgary’s track is smaller. But if you get a horse to run on the front end for a mile, that’s about as good as you can get.
“It’s all over the map. I had a horse called Go Pepper Go. (Uncle) Dallas had bought him and broke him but we didn’t pack him. So I bought him. He had never won a nickel at the racetrack, and he didn’t even drive that good.
“But he started good every time the horn went. So sometimes you get lucky and find one of those horses that is naturally good at starting. It doesn’t matter how fast they are. If you have three others who can run, you can win some stuff.”
The Westerose, Alta., driver knows a thing or two about winning.
In 2012, he won chuckwagon racing’s ‘Triple Crown’ by capturing the Ponoka Stampede, the Calgary Stampede aggregate and the Rangeland Derby.
Every driver on the WPCA tour would love to put that kind of a magical ride together.
But Dorchester, a two-time winner of the WPCA’s Clean Drive Award, is intent on taking care of his own business and letting the results follow.
“I hit a lot of barrels last year,” he says. “I probably would have been top 15 last year if I hadn’t hit so many barrels.
“I just want to be consistent like I used to be.”
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that dream officially came true for Tyler and Austin Jones
not just for Fort Dorchester High School or the Lowcountry
with a pair of twins umpiring major league baseball games on the same day at the same time
Tyler made his major league debut Sunday in a double header between the St
Both brothers were on the field working two different games half a country away
calling balls and strikes for the matinee between the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins
BACKGROUND | "Fort Dorchester alum makes MLB umpiring debut, twin brother could join him next season"
Austin made his major league debut in June 2024 when Max Scherzer threw his 3000th career strikeout in Austin's umping debut.
Tyler and Austin's former baseball coach says they showed a brain for the game even in high school.
"Two great kids. You won't find two better young men character wise. They're always doing the right thing and, and always helpful and all that kind of stuff. Just great, great people. And cerebral kind of players, were the thinkers, real up on the rules and knowing where everybody should be and all those kind of things," said Fort Dorchester Head Coach Ronnie Saylor.
There have been a few cases of twins playing major league baseball. Ozzie and Jose Conseco are probably the most famous of the group.
Currently, Taylor and Tyler Rogers are twins in the major leagues as players.
We could not find any record of twins umpiring together in the major leagues, meaning the Jones brothers umpiring at the same time on the same day, could very well be a major league milestone.
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Five entered at a time. The line snaked down the hall.
Dorchester resident Thanh Nguyen’s memories of Vietnam are vivid. Everywhere she looked in the display space created at Boston College High School were reminders of the life she left behind. Lanterns she used to study. Soldiers’ uniforms hung alongside workers’ uniforms. A bamboo shoulder pole used to carry 60 pound sacks of grain. The sounds of the last radio broadcast as Saigon fell.
View of a visual arts project by Tran Vu displayed during commemorative events held by Vietnamese-led organizations. (Cristela Guerra/WBUR)Half a century ago, the fall of Saigon prompted Vietnamese refugees to seek safety across the globe. Dorchester is home to three-quarters of Massachusetts' Vietnamese-American population. Hundreds gathered to mark the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war with food, song and an immersive installation.
The artifacts, photographs, and stories displayed were curated by Linh-Phương Vũ, project director of the oral history project called 1975: Vietnamese Diaspora Oral Stories. Vu worked in collaboration with the students enrolled in an Asian American seminar course at UMass Boston.
A line of people wait to enter an immersive exhibition offering insight into the movement and path of the Vietnamese diaspora since 1975. (Cristela Guerra/WBUR)Nguyen’s daughter-in-law, Vy Vu and two granddaughters listened as their grandmother told them about her life in Vietnam, sparked by the exhibition. It’s a history many struggle to discuss, said Vy Vu.
“ I think it just brings up a lot of emotions for any of us attending the event because you know, just a lot of pain, a lot of grief, and the legacy from that. I think it's still with our community, obviously,” Vu said.
Visitors connected red strings on a giant map to show all the places Vietnamese refugees restarted their lives and the courage, toll, and scale of displacement. Vu translated as Nguyen, who is 65, talked about living in poverty.
“She said that she doesn't think that she can ever be healed,” Vu said. It’s very hard because when the war ended, she was 15 years old and it was hard for her and her family, without food, without shelter, or like the basic necessity of life.”
Thanh Nguyen and her daughter-in-law, Vy Vu enter the immersive exhibition, which opens with a passage filled with newspaper clippings from the Vietnam War. (Cristela Guerra/WBUR)Both Nguyen and Vu made it to the U.S. in the 1990s. Today, Vu’s sister, Ngoc-Tran Vu, is a prominent Boston-based artist and cultural organizer. Tran Vu is at the forefront of working to create a community-led memorial for the Vietnamese diaspora in Dorchester.
“ And especially seeing so many of our elders transitioning and passing on, my own parents', family included, everyone is getting older,” Tran Vu said. “And yet their memories, their experience of the war, you know, coming into new land, coming to the US what does that mean? And, I always think about like, I am who I am and where I am because of the war.”
“ I continue to really work off this idea of how do we define ourselves and amidst the complexity of our society, our culture,” Tran Vu said. “And what we want the stories to be thinking of past, present, and, and future.”
Mayor Wu was one of the key speakers during the commemoration. Her words were translated for the audience by Nguoi Dan Chuong Trinh. (Cristela Guerra/WBUR)The community processed grief in ceremony and song. Many aspects of the commemoration are intergenerational, led by youth. Inside the program were resources for therapy and support in case anyone needed help managing triggers. Mayor Michelle Wu attended the event and spoke to the crowd while holding her daughter.
“ We know that those roots from Saigon, that have to be ripped up and taken halfway around the world, were still, in many ways,running deep family to family,” Wu said. “And that as that elder generation came to Dorchester, came to Boston, opened businesses, built organizations, made it possible to come together for the next generation and the one after that to grow and to enjoy a life in Boston.”
In one poignant moment, singers paid their respects to boat refugees who escaped Vietnam by sea. (Cristela Guerra/WBUR)In one poignant moment, singers paid their respects to boat refugees who escaped Vietnam by sea. Khang Nguyen is vice president of the Vietnamese-American Community of Massachusetts. He survived a seven-day boat trip to Thailand at age 14, leaving his family behind. His mother wanted him safe.
The boat was full of children and adults. Nguyen said they almost didn’t make it. He learned to cook, to wash and the community took care of each other. He was there for two and a half years.
“My generation [is] okay, but my son, my kid didn't know,” Nguyen said. “I want to tell them the history, the price that their parents have paid.”
Thanh Nguyen and Vy Vu place notes inside their glowing jar, which symbolize fireflies, a main theme during the commemoration. (Cristela Guerra/WBUR)At the end of the exhibit, Vy Vu holds a mason jar with little lights symbolizing the firefly. She writes a note and places it inside the jar and beside theother glowing jars on a wall.
“ There have been dark days, but you know, we are here and we're thriving as a community and we wanna keep moving forward,” Vu said.
Thanh Nguyen has friends she gathers with to talk about what they lived through in Vietnam. They cry together. She points to her right leg. Her knee remains perpetually bent due to carrying so much weight as a girl. After all this time, her body still remembers.
Cristela Guerra Senior Arts & Culture ReporterCristela Guerra is a senior arts and culture reporter for WBUR
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UPDATED - ROAD CLOSURE EXTENDED (REV April 11
Due to grade-related issues on this project below
additional remediation is needed to ensure the alignment meets the required specifications
The location of this additional work requires that the road is closed under its current condition
Please be advised that due to ongoing infrastructure improvements along Dorchester Road and Chippawa Parkway between Stanley Avenue and Dorchester Road the current closure to through traffic will be extended until April 25
2025 (UPDATED). The road closure is to accommodate the tunnelling of the watermain and sanitary services across the CP railway crossing
Access to George Bukator Park can be accessed from Stanley Avenue
Please feel free to view updates on the City website and/or reach out to the Project Manager identified below -
[email protected]
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LondonNewsNo injuries reported in barn fire near Dorchester By CTVNewsLondon.ca StaffPublished: March 21, 2025 at 5:39PM EDT
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Canada’s newest finance minister and (now former) public safety minister Dominic Leblanc was at the Dorchester Penitentiary on Thursday to announce progress on a major new project: a standalone Health Centre of Excellence to replace the existing Shepody Healing Centre
LeBlanc told reporters that the project would be a “game changer for Tantramar
and for the Correctional Service of Canada across the country.”
It’s been years since the project was first announced in 2019
but LeBlanc said that last week the Treasury Board approved the funding
and “the money is safely now in the account of the Correctional Service of Canada.” Though he said procurement rules prevented him from disclosing the budgeted amount
he said it was “one of the largest investments the Government of Canada has made in New Brunswick since the Confederation bridge was built.” The fixed link to PEI cost about $840 million when it was built in the 1990s
LeBlanc also announced a pre-approved list of national construction companies who will be invited to bid on the final design and building of the centre
will be able to submit proposals once the government finalizes and releases its request for proposals in February
The new centre will replace and expand on the work of the current Shepody Healing Centre located inside the main penitentiary complex
According to plans announced at a public meeting in Dorchester this past summer
the centre will accommodate multiple levels of security
and have room for up to 155 patients including a small number of women
Officials said the two to three story building would have its own defined
Leblanc said the project would bring hundreds of federal jobs to Dorchester
The minister and Beauséjour MP explained to reporters why it has taken so long to get to today’s announcement
“The global pandemic didn’t help,” said LeBlanc
adding also that the Treasury Board required other site options to be evaluated
“So there were studies done about whether this facility should be located in another province
“The decision is to build it right here behind us,” gesturing in the direction of a piece of land known as ‘the meadow’
to the right of the driveway approaching the penitentiary
The meadows was formerly used as part of a prison farm in the minimum security Westmoreland Institution
That and all other prison farms in Canada were closed down by the Harper government in about 2010
Leblanc said he had visited the Westmoreland Institution when the farm was active
and noted that “there was a waiting list of people who wanted to get up at five in the morning and work with the dairy herd.”
a bad decision to get rid of the prison farms,” says LeBlanc
“I have been asking the Correctional Service of Canada to tell me how we could
bring back the prison farm.” LeBlanc said the Health Centre project would “in no way” take away from the need to look at the possibility
Leblanc noted that Thursday’s announcement might be his last as public safety minister
in light of the cabinet shuffle slated for Friday
He had kind words for Correctional Service Canada staff
and also gave shout outs to Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton and Mayor Andrew Black
CHMA caught up with Mayor Black after the event
outside the doors of Dorchester Penitentiary
Black said progress on the health centre has been “a long time coming,” and that Thursday’s news was welcome
“It’ll be a huge investment in our community,” he said
Black had a chance to ask LeBlanc some questions regarding municipal infrastructure and taxation
it’s going to require a lot more services from the municipality,” said Black
noting the current penitentiary makes use of Dorchester’s water and fire protection services
LeBlanc acknowledged Black’s enquiry at the news conference
“The mayor made a good pitch in the earlier meeting about working with the municipality on the cost of infrastructure,” said LeBlanc
“We’ll be working with Andrew and his colleagues to ensure that we do it in the right way for the community.”
Black also pressed the minister about taxation
got what’s called payment in lieu of taxes,” said Black
“It’s not the right amount of money that the municipality should receive from this institution
and now we’re going to have a multi-million dollar addition on top of that,” said Black
“The minister did not have an answer to that,” said Black
we’ll have a further conversation about that
because I think it’s a conversation we need to have.”
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The air was electric at Bagwell Stadium as Fort Dorchester High School paused to celebrate a major milestone: recognition as one of South Carolina’s top three high schools
The celebration came after Fort Dorchester was named a finalist for the 2024–2025 Palmetto’s Finest Award
a distinction presented annually by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA)
Though the school did not take home the top honor
the recognition placed Fort Dorchester among the state’s elite institutions for academic achievement
“Being named one of South Carolina’s top three high schools is a tremendous honor,” said Fort Dorchester High School Principal Tripp Aldredge
“This achievement reflects the relentless commitment and collaboration of our students
we strive every day to empower students for success in a rapidly evolving world
we celebrate that shared dedication to excellence
We are excited for the rest of the world to know the secret we have been keeping: Fort Dorchester is one of the best places in South Carolina to teach and learn.”
school board members and community partners
and bursts of confetti and T-shirts kept the atmosphere celebratory
senior Lily Smith was awarded the Joseph R
presented by Former Superintendent Joe Pye and Dorchester Two Education Foundation Executive Director Ralph Hayes
honors Pye’s 52 years of service in public education
who plans to study secondary education at Charleston Southern University
Superintendent Chad Daugherty praised the school’s performance
“Fort Dorchester High School continues to lead by example — academically and within the community,” he said
“This recognition reinforces our commitment to providing a world-class education and reflects the outstanding work happening every day in Dorchester District Two schools.”
Fort Dorchester joins a long list of Dorchester District Two schools honored as Palmetto’s Finest over the years
The full list and more information about the Palmetto’s Finest Award can be found at www.scasa.org
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The subject property known as 3850 DORCHESTER RD is located on the East side of Dorchester Road between Dorchester Road and Windermere Road at the intersection of Dorchester Road and Isaac Street
The applicant is requesting the Committee of Adjustment consider minor variances from provisions of Zoning By-law No 79-200
through a process permitted by Section 45(1) of the Planning Act (R.S.O
Proposal: The applicant is proposing to construct an addition to a legal-non conforming accessory building on the above noted property
The subject property is zoned Residential Family 1C Density Zone (R1C) Zone in accordance with Zoning By-law No
See further details in the attached notice
Digital copies of plans and documents submitted with the application may be obtained on the Planning Department Current Applications webpage
The subject property known as 6353 CARLTON AV is located on the East side of Carlton Avenue between Culp Street and Crown Crescent
Proposal: The applicant is proposing to construct seven 3-storey stacked townhouse dwelling for a total of 55 dwelling units
The applicant is also proposing to construct additional dwelling units within the proposed townhouse dwelling units for a total of 54 additional dwelling units on the subject property
The subject property is zoned Residential Low Density
2019-122 and further amended by Committee of Adjustment Application A-2021-029
The subject property known as 3099 MARSHALL RD is located on the North side of Marshall Road between Willoughby Drive and Niagara River Parkway
Proposal: The applicant is proposing to convey a parcel of land (Part 2) to be added to Part 3
Part 1 is to be retained for continued residential use (3099 Marshall Road)
As part of the consent application the applicant is requesting the Committee of Adjustment to consider minor variances from provisions of Zoning By-law No
The subject property is zoned Rural in accordance with Zoning By-law No
The subject property known as 5584-5594 RAMSEY RD is located on the South side of Ramsey Road between Stanley Avenue and Kister Road
Proposal: The applicant is proposing to convert the existing barn into a self-storage warehouse on the subject property
The existing dwelling will be converted to an office and washroom
The subject property is zoned General Industrial (GI-55)
The subject property known as 4248 ELGIN ST is located on the Southeast side of Elgin Street
Proposal: The applicant is proposing an Additional Dwelling Unit within an Accessory Building
The subject property is zoned Residential Two Density (R2) Zone in accordance with Zoning By-law No
The applicant is requesting variances for accessory dwelling height and landscape strip for additional dwelling unit
The subject property known as 4653 LEE AV is located on the Western side of Lee Avenue
the Committee deferred the application as the applicant/consultant was not in attendance
The applicant is requesting the Committee of Adjustment to consider minor variances from provisions of Zoning By-law No 79-200
c.P.13).
Proposal: The applicant is proposing to divide the existing lot into two smaller lots by removing Part Lot Control through a future application
The Removal of Part Lot Control will facilitate the creation of separate
A semi-detached dwelling is proposed on Parts 2 and 3
while Part 1 will be retained for the future construction of a detached dwelling
The subject property known as 5701 LEWIS AV is located on the North-West side of Lewis Avenue and East of Slater Avenue
Proposal: The applicant is proposing to add a second restaurant on the subject property
The subject property is zoned Tourist Commercial (TC-404) in accordance with Zoning By-law No
Further amended by committee of adjustment decision A-56/96 and A-65/91
The applicant is requesting relief from permitted uses
See further details in the attached notice
Digital copies of plans and documents submitted with the application may be obtained on the Planning Department Current Applications webpage
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments have been submitted to permit 28 stacked townhouse dwellings with 38 parking spaces
Schedule 1 shows the details of the proposal
The Official Plan designation is Residential
An Official Plan Amendment is required for the increased density allowed on the site from 75 units per hectare to 109 units per hectare
The applicant is rezoning the subject property to a Residential Apartment 5D Density Zone (R5D) to allow for the use of the stack townhouses
the proposal will require relief to the regulations for the reduction of the minimum lot frontage
reduction of the minimum rear yard depth
reduction of the minimum interior side yard width
a reduction of the minimum aisle for a parking space
a reduction of the projection of fire escape into side and rear yard and a reduction of the minimum landscaped open area
The City of Niagara Falls is seeking to consolidate the Zoning By-laws for the former Townships of Crowland (1538) (1958)
part of Willoughby (395) (1966) and Humberstone (70-69) into By-law 79-200
which governs the former Township of Stamford and the remainder of the City of Niagara Falls
To be rescheduled - New Notice Letter to be provided soon
An Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment application has been submitted to permit the development of a residential development of a ten 10) storey apartment building consisting of 112 affordable housing units
An Official Plan Amendment is required to redesignate the Subject Lands to a SiteS pecific Residential designation to permit an apartment building over six (6) storeys in height
A Zoning By-law Amendment application is required to rezone the Subject Lands from a Transitional Residential Multiple (TRM) to a Residential Apartment 5F Density Zone with site specific provisions
The rear lands of the subject property will be rezoned to an Environmental Protection Area (EPA)
The zoning departures include increase to the maximum height of a building
a reduction of the minimum landscape – open space area
and a reduction minimum amenity space for an apartment dwelling unit
A Zoning By-law Amendment application has been submitted to facilitate the development of 42 stacked townhouse dwelling units with 47 parking spaces.Schedule 1 (seen in Notice) shows the details of the proposed development.The subject lands are designated Residential
and located within the Mcleod Road Intensification Corridor in accordance with the City of Niagara Falls Official Plan
The Residential designation permits stacked townhouse dwellings and a density of 65-150 units per hectare in the Mcleod Road Intensification Corridor
The application proposes a density of 105 units per hectare
no Official Plan Amendment is required.The subject lands are currently zoned “Residential Low Density – Grouped Multiple Dwellings (R4)” zone
Theapplication proposes to rezone the property to a site specific R4 zone to permit a decreased lot area
rear yard depth interior side yard depth landscaped open space
maneuvering aisle and reductions parking ratio
The City of Niagara Falls will be completing work at the Calaguiro Estates stormwater management facility on Domenic Crescent. Please see the attached notice for more detailed information.
For further questions you may contact:
Eric Lallouet, Senior Project Manager
Municipal Works - Engineering, City of Niagara Falls
[email protected]
The City of Niagara Falls will be completing stormwater pond work and site grading at Fireman's Park
2025 until completion approximately July 2025 weather permitting
Due to the rough and muddy conditions during the construction by Centennial Construction, the lower park will be CLOSED to the public for safety
Municipal Works, City of Niagara Falls
[email protected]
The City of Niagara Falls will be completing the watermain replacement and water service replacement
complete with all restorations on Stamford Green Drive (from St
2025 until completion approximately June 2025 weather permitting
Please anticipate one lane of traffic with the occasion road closure by Demar Construction Inc. Notification of road closures will be provided in advance by the contractor
For further information you may contact
[email protected]
A Zoning By-law Amendment application has been submitted to facilitate the development of a 6-storey apartment buildings containing 103 dwelling units including integrated ground-oriented townhouse units
Schedules 1 shows the details of the proposal
The property is zoned Tourist Commercial (TC) Zone in accordance with Zoning By-law No
The application proposes to rezone the property to a site-specific Residential Apartment 5F Density (R5F) Zone to permit the proposed dwelling units and site-specific provisions
The subject property is designated Residential and Tourist Commercial in part
in accordance with the City of Niagara Falls Official Plan
The Residential designation permits various residential uses
and a maximum density ranging from 75-100 units per hectare
The Official Plan designation is not proposed to be changed as a part of this application
A zoning by-law amendment application has been submitted to permit Prestige Employment/ Industrial uses on the subject lands and to recognize the existing uses of Parcels C and D by rezoning Parcels B
and D to a site specific Prestige Industrial (PI-XXX) zone
and to rezone a portion of Parcel C as Environmental Protection Area
Please see attached notice and Schedules 1
and 3 that illustrate the details of the application’s proposed buildings
Digital copies of plans and documents submitted with the application may be obtained on the Planning Department Current Applications webpage
has retained Alfidome Construction to complete a sewer separation
watermain replacement and full road reconstruction in this area (see attached notice for map view). The work is scheduled to commence on or about April 21st
2025 and will be continuous until completion
For further information you may contact Eric Lallouet, Senior Project Manager, at 905-356-7521 ext 4216 or [email protected]
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments have been submitted for a special policy area to increase the maximum permitted net residential density
from 100 units per hectare to 203 units per hectare
The applicant proposes to convert the existing motel commercial building to 96 dwelling units and construct a 6 storey 42-unit apartment building
The proposal is located within the Built-Up Area and the Lundy’s Lane Satellite District
Residential intensification is encouraged within this District in standalone or mixed-use buildings
The subject lands are designated Tourist Commercial within the City’s Official Plan and zoned Tourist Commercial (TC) in accordance with Zoning By-law No
The applicant is requesting to add the use of an apartment building
reduction to the minimum rear yard requirement
reduction to the exterior side yard requirement
increase the required height for the apartment building
and a reduction the required parking standard
The City of Niagara Falls will be commencing construction of the NS&T Trail Phase 1 Development
from Kalar Road to Montrose Road & Meadowvale Drive to Drummond Road
A map illustrating the work areas are shown in the notice attached below
This contract will be carried out by Stevensville Lawn Service Inc
Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-April
Please note that the actual start date will be dependent on weather and site conditions
the trail corridor will be fenced off and inaccessible for the duration of the project
Please see the notice for a QR code to scan for project updates
The City of Niagara Falls fire hydrant flushing program begin on March
This is performed as part of a scheduled preventative maintenance program to help maintain good water quality and to improve water flow in your neighbourhood
The flushing area has moved to the area bordered by TSR
420 and Stanley AV (see map for further detail)
you may notice a temporary decrease in your water pressure
running a cold water tap closest to your water meter for a short period of time should alleviate the problem
please contact the Municipal Service Centre at 905-356-1355
The City’s Annual Water Report can be viewed online at www.niagarafalls.ca or in person at the Municipal Service Centre at 3200 Stanley Avenue
The City of Niagara Falls will be completing the road reconstruction
complete with all restorations on Whirlpool Road from Stanley Avenue to the OPG Power Canal
The work is scheduled to commence on February 27
approximately end of June 2025 weather permitting
[email protected]
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has retained WSP Canada Inc
(WSP) to undertake the Detail Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study (Class EA) for the structural rehabilitations of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) Burlington Skyway southbound lane and the completion of electrical work on both the northbound and southbound QEW
within the City of Hamiltonand the City of Burlington
The Burlington Skyway Niagara Bound structure will be rehabilitated in three main stages with all four lanes maintained during daytime and nightly lane closures as required
During each stage there will be single lane closures on the QEW throughout the weekends (Friday Night to Monday morning
approximately eight weekends per construction season) to rehabilitate the middle portions of the deck
Three lanes will be maintained over the Skyway structure during these weekend lane closures
Construction is expected to last for 3 years
and is anticipated to start in Spring 2024 with completion by Fall 2026
Please note that www.511on.ca is also a great resource for travel
construction/maintenance closures and activities on the provincial highways
If you wish to obtain additional information or provide comments
please contact one of the Project Team members listed below:
e-mail: [email protected]
e-mail: [email protected]
5 months agoDuration 1:49Cost of healing centre replacement at Dorchester has climbed5 months agoNewsDuration 1:49A 155-bed medical facility for prison inmates will cost millions more than previously expected. The federal government announced Thursday it would soon select a firm to design and build the facility beside Dorchester Penitentiary.
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Councillor Bruce Phinney brought forward the motion for annual glyphosate testing of water supplies in Sackville & Dorchester
His motion was seconded by Councillor Josh Goguen
Tantramar Town Council resisted advice from Town Engineer Jon Eppell on Tuesday and ordered that drinking water in Sackville and Dorchester be tested every year for the presence of glyphosate
frequently sold under the commercial name Roundup
is heavily used by forestry companies in New Brunswick to eliminate ground vegetation that can inhibit the growth of young trees
NB Power also sprays it to control weeds on its transmission line routes
“Each of our water supplies in Dorchester and Sackville have three wells and they have filter systems,” Eppell told council
He explained that the six wells are tested every month for bacteria
twice a year for organic materials and once every year for heavy metals including the iron and manganese that are filtered out of the water
“We have tested for glyphosate previously and found that the concentration was not measurable,” Eppell said
referring to tests conducted in 2023 at the request of a resident who was worried about the water supply
He said the town had no plans to conduct further tests
“It is not required to be tested for by either the guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality in Canada nor for approval to operate,” he added
He also said that the herbicide is unlikely to be washed down into wells
Federal guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality state that since glyphosate is absorbed in soils
it “would therefore not be expected to migrate to groundwater supplies after application.”
“It’s not that the sampling can’t be done,” Eppell told council
“It certainly can and it wouldn’t harm the system to do it
It is just an additional cost because each test that you do for each individual well would be around $300 — around $250 to $300 each.”
He noted that the town would also have to pay Veolia
the big international company that manages Tantramar’s water systems
He said there are buffer zones around the Sackville watershed to protect drinking water supplies
the town engineer’s comments fell on deaf ears and council unanimously passed a motion directing that glyphosate testing be conducted every year on the Sackville and Dorchester water supplies when the testing is done for heavy metals
For coverage in 2017, when Sackville Town Council called for an end to the “indiscriminate spraying” of glyphosate especially in areas where municipalities get their drinking water, click here
For a CHMA story from 2023 on glyphosate spraying north of the Sackville watershed, click here
For a recent CBC report on Premier Susan Holt’s promise to ban glyphosate spraying if a link is found to the mystery brain illness that has afflicted dozens of New Brunswickers, click here
Bruce Wark worked in broadcasting and journalism education for more than 35 years. He was at CBC Radio for nearly 20 years as senior editor of network programs such as The World at Six and World Report. He currently writes for The New Wark Times, where a version of this story first appeared on February 6, 2025.
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and Canada plans for the new Dorchester fire station into uncertainty
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the consulting engineer for the $4.6 million project
gave a presentation to Tantramar council last week
He said the design work was nearly complete and the project was on schedule
industry volume and trade availability has stabilized since the COVID-19 pandemic
Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on all U.S
Amos said the tariff situation changed several times through announcements by the Trump administration and the Canadian federal government
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“That has just thrown an enormous wrench into budgeting,” he said.
The fear and uncertainty are now embedded in the supply marketplace for materials, said Amos, adding that when projects go out to tender suppliers put in caveats that material prices could fluctuate based on the tariffs, and suppliers no longer hold prices for the duration of a project.
“No supplier wants to take the risk of holding a price,” he said. “That’s unprecedented.”
The uncertainty will affect equipment like light fixtures, heat pumps and electrical and duct work.
The 9,800-square-foot fire station is designed to have three bays able to fit two trucks each, as well as a training area, storage space, kitchen, workshop area, fitness facility, municipal offices, chief and deputy chief office space.
Another challenge for the project is the changes to the criteria for the Green Municipal Fund. The municipality was hoping to apply for funding because the fire station was designed to be net-zero.
Amos explained a major focus in the criteria for the fund has shifted to socioeconomic outcomes, inclusion, and diversity. The fire station would not hit those criteria, making it a more unlikely candidate for funding.
“We are a square peg and this program has become a very round hole,” Amos said.
He recommended not spending the time and money on filling out the proposal. Instead, he said they should consider taking out some of the more sophisticated and expensive energy efficient aspects of the fire station like the solar panels while leaving in some of the practical energy efficiency elements.
“You’d still have LED lights. You’d still have heat pump technology. You’d still have in floor heating,” he said, noting rather than redesigning the building , ensuring the fire station would still be able to accommodate the solar panels and other measures, so they could be added in the future.
The engineer said the project should still be put out to tender and go ahead this year, and the municipality could negotiate with the bidders to remove elements of the design if there was pressure on the budget.
“I feel bad that this is where we’re at,” Amos said.
Meanwhile, Salisbury is far enough along in the process for its new fire station to escape the effects of the tariffs.
Austin Henderson, the chief administrative officer for the town, said in an email they have completed much of the work that would be affected by tariffs and are working on interior finishes.
“Based on having a lump sum contract and where we are at overall, tariffs have not and are not expected to cause delays, nor price escalations for our project,” he said. “We expect the building to be complete this fall with occupancy in late 2025.”
The contract was awarded last May for $6,911,000 and remains the project cost, other than the usual change orders, said Henderson.
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LondonNewsCareer change: Dorchester, Ont. chiropractor signs professional soccer contractBy Brent LalePublished: January 09, 2025 at 5:30AM EST
Talk about a rapid flow of talent! ✍️ We are thrilled to welcome Julia Benati as the first player signed to @ottrapidfc ! 🪽A dynamic midfielder with a proven track record of excellence, Julia brings experience from her standout career with FC London in League 1 Ontario. Known… pic.twitter.com/ShfcAFZVp8
New BrunswickNewsPackage containing nearly $1M worth of drugs, cellphones found at N.B. penitentiaryBy Bill DicksUpdated: March 11, 2025 at 2:36PM EDT
Fort Dorchester junior Banks Wickersham prepares to round third April 28 after a deep hit into the outfield
Junior Lee Lovelace had some key turns at bat for Fort Dorchester during its series against Summerville
A pair of cross-town rivals met on the baseball diamond during the last week of region play and fans were treated to a great three-game series
Fort Dorchester and Summerville entered their final 5A Region 8 series of the year with identical records
both sitting at 17-6 with a 7-5 mark in the region
James Island had already clinched the region championship and was on its way to an eventual sweep of its region opponents so that meant the winner of the Patriots/Green Wave series would finish as region runner-up and earn a bye for the opening round of the 5A Baseball playoffs
Pitching was strong for both teams all weak
Fort Dorchester mustered just enough offense to win the series 2-1 and receive the bye
Fort Dorchester broke a nine-game losing streak to Summerville by handing the Green Wave a 4-3 loss in North Charleston April 28
Hamilton struck out 13 Summerville batters during a near full-game effort on the mound
He had a one-hitter entering the top of the seventh inning with his team ahead 4-0 before surrendering three hits during the inning
Junior Banks Wickersham relieved him and faced the final two batters
He surrendered a hit to Drew Hayes that loaded the bases
but then got the next batter to ground out to end the game
Cash Crone got Fort Dorchester on the score board in the second with a double that scored Cannon Corder
Hamilton added to the cause with a deep double that allowed Wickersham to score from first to put the Patriots on top 2-0
That combo produced again in the fifth with Hamilton reaching on a single that led to a Summerville error that allowed Wickersham to score again
Then Daniel Schenk singled to plate pinch runner A.J
Watts for the 4-0 Fort lead entering the sixth
Summerville’s seventh-inning rally featured an RBI double by Nick Bone
a sacrifice groundout by Jaxson Johnson that produced a run and an RBI single from Cody Landis
Summerville southpaw Jayce Stone only surrendered six hits during the game
Fort Dorchester had to battle again two days later as it earned a 3-2 win at Green Wave Park
both Schenk and Summerville’s Aiden Vorlick only gave up four hits and struck out five batters before being relieved
Schenk got the pitching win while Wickersham picked up another save
The pitcher also has three pitching wins on the season and has only surrendered four earned runs
Junior Lee Lovelace led the Fort batters during the win
He reached base during all four of his trips to the plate
adding to his 30-plus and counting hits on the season
He had a hit in all but three of the Patriots’ first 25 games of the season
Both Summerville’s Cody Landis and Drew Hayes were 2-for-4 at the plate that evening and reached base on a walk
Lovelace opened the top of the first with a double and then scored off a double by Schenk
That lead held until the bottom of the fifth when Summerville’s Johnson doubled and scored off a double by Banks Knight
Wickersham scored on a sacrifice grounder from Jansen Bohanon for a 2-1 Fort lead
Summerville’s Landis opened the bottom of the fifth with a triple and then scored on a bases loaded fly out by Vorlick to retie things
It was still knotted entering the final inning
Luke Conroy reached on a single and the Fort sent in Cade Ridgway to pinch run for him
He moved to second on a passed ball and scored the game-winning run on a single by Lovelace
Summerville won the third game of the series 6-1 but it wasn’t enough to claim runner-up honors for the region
Brady Coryell got the start on the hill for the Green Wave
Summerville enters the playoffs with an 18-8 record while Fort Dorchester enters at 19-7
The Green Wave is scheduled to host Cane Bay at 7 p.m
for the first round of the District 4 bracket
The winner of that game will play at Fort Dorchester Tuesday
Ashley Ridge lost its series against West Ashley this past week 2-1 so it opens the playoffs Monday
The winner of that game will play at Stratford Tuesday
AtlanticNewsInmate assaulted in Dorchester Penitentiary in New BrunswickBy Jeremy HullPublished: December 10, 2024 at 1:24PM EST
developer spar over height of Îlot Dorchester project
The city administration will decide “in the coming days” the fate and shape of a major development project in Saint-Roch
A battle over the Îlot Dorchester plan between citizens’ groups and the developer
flared up last week over the impact the mixed housing and commercial project would have on the neighbourhood skyline
The groups claim the developer is trying to “divide and conquer” local residents
denouncing “lies and falsehoods” coming from opponents of the project
After a series of consultations organized by the city
Groupe Trudel submitted a plan in October to transform what is currently a huge park- ing lot along Rue Saint-Vallier Est into a complex with 410 housing units
including 20 social housing and 40 afford- able housing units
The main focus of opposition to the project is the height of the hotel
which does not conform with the urban development plan for that zone of Saint-Roch
Company president William Trudel seems to have stoked opposition to the project with comments he made in media interviews two weeks ago
he suggested citizens are against the project because they don’t want to lose “their partial view of the mountains in a housing crisis […] People have difficulty finding housing
The Collectif citoyen Saint- Roch/Saint-Jean-Baptiste responded Jan
30 with a long and harshly worded open letter which argues that the city itself has vaunted the “panorama” that would be obstructed by the hotel tower
“The developer’s rhetoric of minimizing the value of this remarkable panorama is all the more laughable
since it is precisely its value that he covets with all his heart
Why build on the Dorchester block a world-class hotel [that] will bring tens of thousands of tourists to Saint- Roch
What is so attractive about this location for a hotel chain
struck back with an open letter published in the Journal de Québec Feb
“We welcome the expression of opinions contrary to ours since this moves the debate forward,” Trudel wrote
“I take up my pen … to correct the facts on the five biggest lies being spread.”
The letter addresses and rejects claims about the amount of green space allotted to the project
the question of densification of housing and the description of the hotel as “luxury.”
Regarding “densification,” Trudel notes that Quebec City has 5,550 people per square kilometre in its downtown
making it less densely populated than Ottawa (6,800)
“[S]preading lies and defaming my company is a line that I will never allow to be crossed
I built Trudel with $1,500 and an immense amount of personal effort and sacrifice
The 150 employees earn their living within the company with pride
We are the example that anything is possible in Quebec.”
A spokesperson for Mayor Bruno Marchand said the city is expected to make a decision on the Îlot Dorchester project “in the coming days.”
Marchand said the city is looking for compromises to ensure the block is developed
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City approves Îlot Dorchester hotel with reduced height
The city has approved the Îlot Dorchester project thanks to a “compromise” entailing trimming three storeys from the project’s centrepiece hotel
he had given the green light to a revised plan with a 17-storey rather than 20-storey hotel anchoring the major development in what is now a huge parking lot in the heart of the Saint-Roch district
He told reporters because of significant housing needs in Saint-Roch
We need this project and we are going for it.”
Some residential groups had opposed the project on the grounds of housing density and the height of the hotel
had submitted several versions of the project
each addressing local concerns including green space and social housing.
The current development plan for the sector of Saint-Roch has a maximum of 10 storeys for buildings
although there are several structures higher in the immediate neighbourhood
Ilot Dorchester will require an amendment to the zoning plan
Public consultations will be held “in the coming weeks,” Marchand said
and no referendum is required to approve the zoning change
Groupe Trudel president William Trudel explained in a Radio-Canada interview the company was able to maintain the profitability of the tower structure by moving the hotel component to the larger lower part of the building
“We reached an agreement in the last few days with the major (hotel) brand that accepted this compromise
It allows us to lower the building to 17 floors
which was not possible before,” Trudel said
has caused a six-month delay in the planned start of construction
comprising 400 housing units in four separate buildings
with tanneries and factories related to shipbuilding
Groupe Trudel bought the site in 2022 after managing the parking lot for two years
Îlot Dorchester is the fourth major combined commercial and residential project the company has in the works
The others are redevelopments of Place Fleur de Lys
Galeries Charlesbourg and Place des Quatres Bourgeois.
The US tariff war has brought some price uncertainty to a major project to build a new fire hall in Dorchester
Consulting engineer Andrew Amos was at council last week to give an update on the project
and he issued a warning to councillors: Trump’s tariff war “has just thrown an enormous wrench into budgeting and into costing,” said Amos
But there was also some good news about the $4.6 million project
The design of the new building is nearly complete
and the project is on schedule to be built this year
An on-schedule project is especially good news this time around
because in addition to committing to the new fire hall
Tantramar has also ordered a new pumper truck for the Dorchester Fire Department
will not fit into the current 77-year-old Dorchester Fire Hall
But going to tender at the moment has its down side
The original cost estimate of $4.6 million dollars for the new 9800 square foot fire station is now in question
thanks to actual and threatened tariffs from the Trump administration
Amos says that while labour costs are consistent
costs for materials have “changed dramatically”
“When I started this presentation a week ago,” Amos told council
And then driving here that got changed again
That uncertainty is now fully embedded into our supply marketplace for materials.”
The uncertainty affects everything from light fixtures
“The impact of those tariffs is showing up in direct price increases and changes
but also in a fear and uncertainty by the suppliers.”
Amos reported another wrinkle in Tantramar’s plan for the new fire hall
which the municipality hoped would qualify for Green Municipal Fund support for its proposed net zero design
But the target of the Green Municipal Fund has shifted
and so he recommended abandoning the pursuit of that funding
due to decreasing odds that the project would be successful
that would also mean abandoning some of the more costly energy efficiency measures in the original building plan
you’d still have heat pump technology
all those bread and butter energy efficient savings designs would stay in,” said Amos
“It’s the more higher end stuff
the solar panels… those would be gone.” The building will remain designed and wired to accommodate solar panels
if a future council decided to add them in future
Amos suggested putting the current design of the project out to tender
and then negotiating with low bidders to remove elements based on budget restraints
He also recommended moving ahead this year with the project
despite the price uncertainty caused by US tariffs
“Now is the time to go to market,” said Amos
So we’re going to have to do the absolute best we can in this economic environment to drive that cost as absolute low as we can.” Amos assured council that the floor plan would not be changed without first consulting them
The current plan includes room for three bays
as well as a training area and kitchen facility
There’s also chief and deputy chief office space
“We won’t take any space out of the building without consulting and get the direction from council,” said Amos
“but we will explore every opportunity.”
A Dorchester mother is livid after she and her children waited a week in frigid temperatures for her gas to be turned back on due to an investigation that cleared her of any wrongdoing
“This has been unimaginable and detrimental to my health and the kids
who is on sick leave from her job as a court reporter in Stratford
and four pets moved into the home on Catherine Street on Dec
had turned off her gas after an employee found evidence someone had tampered with the gas meter
“They told me that the previous tenant had their gas shut off in 2023 and they noticed that the gas meter has been tampered with
which has nothing to do with me,” she said
“My children and I are paying the price for a previous tenant.”
That left the family scrambling to stay warm in temperatures of 13 C during a polar vortex with outside temperatures dipping to -21 C
“All of us are sick and it’s hard to get better when it’s freezing in a house,” Cochrane said
She said she called Enbridge “hundreds of times every day” to let them know she was a new tenant and it was the previous tenant who damaged the meter
but two space heaters have died since they’ve been running 24 hours a day.”
on Wednesday she received an email from the gas giant’s ombudsman department
saying the gas meter would be unlocked that day
A spokesperson for Enbridge said the reason for the delay was they didn’t receive a copy of the lease until Tuesday
The account at this property – prior to Enbridge being made aware Cochrane is now the tenant – had a history of disconnections
the disconnection was deemed necessary to ensure safety
“Only qualified personnel should handle natural gas systems
Ensuring the safety of our customers and the community remains our utmost priority.”
hrivers@postmedia.com
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Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInDORCHESTER COUNTY
(WCSC) - Dorchester County Animal Control officers got the opportunity Friday morning to rescue an orphaned baby raccoon and
Animal Control officers reportedly intervened to help the small animal after it lost its mother
according to Dorchester County spokesperson Erin Pomrenke
“Dedicated to protecting and caring for all animals
our team made sure this little one was safe and in good hands,” Dorchester County Government officials said in a social media post
The raccoon is in the process of going to Keeper of the Wild
a nonprofit wildlife rescue and rehabilitation service in Colleton County
the raccoon will receive the support it needs
“A big thank you to our officers and Keeper of the Wild for their commitment to wildlife rescue!” County officials said
The Dorchester has announced an exclusive collaboration with French lifestyle brand Atelier Choux
The partnership will introduce bespoke illustrations reimagining the hotel's famous façade surrounded by enchanting characters and hot air balloons across a range of family-focused amenities and retail products
Families staying at the renowned London hotel will enjoy specially designed children's pillow covers
cot fitted sheets and throw cushions in their rooms and suites
The custom illustrations feature colourways inspired by the recently renovated interiors of the hotel
Executive pastry chef Michael Kwan has created mini pastel-coloured cakes to accompany cupcakes
with cake-toppers displaying the charming designs
Children will also receive a colouring book and a special take-home cookie featuring The Dorchester illustrations
Luca Virgilio, The Dorchester's general manager, says: "We are thrilled to partner with Atelier Choux, a brand that shares our commitment to exceptional quality and creating memorable experiences for families. This collaboration allows us to bring a touch of whimsy to The Dorchester, offering our guests something truly unique."Founded in 2016
Atelier Choux specialises in interior design and luxury products for families
with a focus on organic and eco-friendly materials
The brand collaborates with Swedish illustrator Mattias Adolfsson
whose distinctive style brings a playful touch of humour and fantasy to the designs
allowing them to take a piece of the experience home with them
The Dorchester x Atelier Choux collection will be available exclusively at The Dorchester from April 14
LondonNewsThursday incident in Dorchester being investigated as assault and robberyBy Kristylee VarleyPublished: August 23, 2024 at 6:38AM EDT
Renowned soloist Ngoc Diem performed an emotional song from “Paris by Night” about the refugees who escaped by boat – those who made it and those who didn’t
Black April – a term used by many Vietnamese émigrés to describe the fall of Saigon fifty years ago this week– is a date frozen in time for those who experienced the trauma of war
and displacement from their homeland in Southeast Asia
For Vietnamese Americans in Dorchester— one of the cultural hubs of the diaspora in the United States— the anniversary also presents an opportunity for healing and reflection across the strong community that has been built here in the last half-century
That dynamic— largely driven by a generation born here to refugee parents— was on full display at Boston College High School last Saturday as hundreds gathered for a commemorative event that featured speakers
Dubbed the “Remembering Black April 50th Anniversary,” the event was organized by Boston Little Saigon
Vietnamese American Community of Massachusetts
1975: A Vietnamese Diaspora Commemoration Initiative project
and the Massachusetts Vietnamese Scouts Association
and we are very happy to have put together a landmark
multi-media event free and open to the community,” said Ngoc-Tran Vu
lead artist and project director for the 1975 Project
“The content is hard around the war and coping with that and many older folks here have lived through it…That’s the tragedy of the war and we’re trying to shift the narrative of war to its lasting impacts on families and communities
We often hear about it in a militaristic fashion
but we also want to know what it means to our communities still going through it 50 years later.”
The afternoon saw a cavalcade of entertainment
centered around a type of musical theatre meant to unearth via song
and skit the realities of the oft-told stories of the war itself
Complicated subjects like the fate of mixed-race Amer-Asian children left behind to deal with a unique set of troubles also found footing during the day
And a museum-quality walk-through exhibition featured detailed
which was part of remembering,” Vu noted while explaining that the rice and yucca bowl served was emblematic of what those left behind were forced to eat after the fall
The memories are still ripe for many of the older people who attended the event
They included former South Vietnamese soldiers and police officers
most of whom had survived “re-education” camps after the American withdrawal
as well as those who arrived as refugees in the early 1980s and those who came in the 1990s
“Today we remember 50 years of the Vietnamese communist takeover,” said Loc Vu
who was a member of a South Vietnamese Airbourne unit
“It is a very happy day because while we remember all the fighting
we are happy because we have come together
was a university student who joined the Thu Duc Academy in service of the Republic of South Vietnam during the war and served as a public information officer working with the Associated Press and CBS News
But after soldiers from the North captured Saigon
he was sent to a “re-education” camp where he endured what has been described as unspeakable hardships for eight years
who fled the camp in 1989 by bus and then via boat to Indonesia
a Dorchester resident who was a police officer in South Vietnam and was captured in March 1975
“Sufferings began then and all of us here today are witnesses and victims of the persecutions of communism,” he said
and things came to very sad ending,” he added
“To answer all the young generation with questions about the Vietnam war
we’d like to tell you that the Republic of South Vietnam won on all the war fronts
Because the nature of the war changed after the 1972 meeting between the US and China.”
Tan said it’s important to remember the sacrifices of the military and of the family members who came here so that today’s ‘generation can be successful in business
He noted that this success is part of the “desire to repay our second homeland
I would like to thank the US people that with open arms welcomed Vietnamese refugees.”
These remembrances all brought to light the push by the 1975 Project team to create a memorial to the diaspora and the greater community in Dorchester’s Town Field
Team members said that having it sited in the heart of the community will focus attention on the people and community that survived the war and now thrives here
survival meant leaving behind everything but memory,” said Linh-Phuong Vu
an outreach specialist and one of the project directors for the 1975 team
those memories have flowed quietly but steadily like fireflies in the dark lighting the way for future generations
This is more than a ceremony; it’s a gathering across generations…We come together to not only look back
but also to carry forward the light of those that came before us
“The next generation carries the firefly’s spark
the same longings and the same dreams; they are the light-keepers now,” she continued
“This is a legacy moment for those that lived through 1975 and those who inherited its echoes.”
Dignitaries in attendance included Mayor Wu
Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $50 for 52 Issues in the continental US
Download this week's Reporter print issue or subscribe today to "Dorchester's Hometown Weekly Newspaper!" Just $60 for 52 Issues in the continental US
AtlanticNewsRCMP operation in Dorchester Cape, N.B., related to missing manBy Alana PickrellPublished: November 14, 2024 at 4:25PM EST
Tantramar staff will not be looking into the possibility of allowing dogs off leash in the Dorchester ball park during winter months
Councillor Debbie Wiggins-Colwell put forward a motion on Tuesday night asking for a staff report on the idea
but five councillors and the mayor voted down the proposal
A number of councillors including Deputy Mayor Matt Estabrooks raised concerns about dog feces being left on the field where children would later be playing
“I realize that the scope was maybe off season
but off season can get blurred a little bit,” said Estabrooks
we start them as young as four years old now,” said Estabrooks
It’s different than the way ball fields used to be used
with kids rolling around on them.” The councillor also cited potential safety issues with the possibility of holes being dug on fields
“I’ve done some research and I feel I can’t support it,” said Estabrooks
Councillor Bruce Phinney voted in favour of Wiggins-Colwell’s motion, asking about examples of other municipalities that have put it in practice. Wiggins-Colwell cited Halifax as an example. The city has a long list of sports field and ball diamonds where dogs are permitted in winter months
and also some where dogs are allowed year round at specific hours
“Let’s see what the staff brings back,” said Phinney
“and then we can turn around and make an informed decision.”
But councillors were not convinced and the request for a staff report did not pass
but accepted the decision from her colleagues
“I think the research is out there,” said Wiggins-Colwell
“Maybe if a little more research was done on it and brought back to council… But that wasn’t the consensus of council
Tuesday’s decision doesn’t mean there are no dog parks in Tantramar’s future
After a presentation from area resident and dog owner Carla VanBeselaere last year
the municipality included a possible dog park on its list of capital projects budgeted for in the 2025 capital budget
$35,000 was earmarked to create a standalone
with the proposed location on the grounds of the BMX bike park on Dufferin Street
Though it was listed in the proposed capital budget
the project would need to be approved by council before proceeding
If the past experience of the former town of Sackville is any indication, $35,000 might not be enough to make the project happen. Back in 2020, a proposed dog park to be located in Beech Hill Park was estimated to cost the town $80,000, and was voted down by the former council due to the expense