" $ 5 6 " - * 5 4 r / & 8 4 MAYOR THANKS COMMUNITY IN HOLIDAY ADDRESS
&/#3&'r#3*&'4 UCDSB PLANS 2021 The Upper Canada District School Board reviewed its improvement plans for student achievement and wellness for the 2020-2021 school year. The plan focuses on literacy and numeracy skills and also on promoting student interest in learning and strong relationships with their peers at school and with the community. The report also noted the impact that the pandemic has had on students regarding both their school work and their emotional and psycholo- gical state. – Gregg Chamberlain STRATEGIC PLAN The Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) has deve- loped a new multi-year strategic plan for the period from 2020 to 2025. The covers long-term priorities and goals for the CDSBEO, including revisions resulting from adapting to the demands for enhanced e-learning opportunities for students because of the pandemic. – Gregg Chamberlain CSCE CHRISTMAS AUCTION Employees with Centre de s anté com- munautaire de l’Estrie (CSCE) held their annual auction fundraiser as a virtual event. The CSCE raised $13,650. The money will go towards purchase of gift cards for distribution among individuals and families in need within the Five Counties region. – Gregg Chamberlain INDIGENOUS EDUCATION PLAN The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) is updating its Indigenous Education Action Plan. Indigenous students make up 3.1 per cent of the UCDSB and the action plan aims at pro- viding programs on Indigenous culture, history and viewpoint, including Métis and Inuit, for all students to increase their knowledge of Canada’s cultural heritage. Plan updates include providing e-learning opportunities and virtual gatherings for events like iLeads Day for sharing stories, art, and experiences of Indigenous culture. – Gregg Chamberlain
STEPHEN JEFFERY stephen.jeffery@eap.on.ca
As with other municipalities, Champlain’s council turned to virtual meetings in April as pandemic lockdowns began. Councillors met via Zoom, and would continue to do so at the start of the new year. COVID brought other challenges, including the difficulties of maintaining social distan- cing at municipal venues. L’Orignal beach was limited to Champlain residents in July amid fears of overcrowding and inadequate distancing as people rushed outside during the summer. But Riopel said he was proud of the com- munity’s efforts, respect and collaboration to minimize the spread of COVID during the year. He said the measures the government and &BTUFSO0OUBSJP)FBMUI6OJUSFDPNNFOEFE had helped keep everybody safe. “I would like to sincerely thank all those near and far who offer help and show kin- dness in different ways,” he said. “To our local producers, artisans, and merchants, thank you for the creative ways offered to our citizens to continue buying locally. Thank you to all!” The council’s first regular meeting in 2021 is scheduled for Thursday, January 14.
Champlain mayor Normand Riopel has thanked residents for their efforts to combat COVID in his end-of-year letter. Riopel issued a message to the com- munity ahead of the Christmas break, acknowledging the difficulties the past 12 months had brought to many residents. But he said efforts to contain the virus could not be relaxed during the holiday season. i&OKPZUIFIPMJEBZTBEJGGFSFOUXBZUIJT year by celebrating with your families and friends virtually,” he said. “Think of those less fortunate than ourselves, a phone call to someone without family can bring a little sunshine in their lives.” Champlain recorded at least 35 cases of COVID among its approximately 8700 residents during the year. /FJHICPVSJOHNVOJDJQBMJUJFT"MGSFEBOE Plantagenet and Hawkesbury, with slightly larger populations, marked 90 and 196 respectively cases during the period. Those municipalities experienced major outbreaks at long-term care homes, events from which Champlain was spared.
Le maire de Champlain, Normand Riopel, a remercié la communauté pour ses efforts visant à freiner la propagation de COVID-19 au cours de la dernière année. — photo d’archives
UCPR AND VIA RAIL EXTEND PRESCOTT-RUSSELL TRAIL DEAL
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
Publié le mercredi par • Published on Wednesday by: La Compagnie d’édition André Paquette Inc. Imprimé par • Printed by: Imprimerie Prescott et Russell, Hawkesbury, ON # convention : 0040012398 1100, rue Aberdeen Street, C.P. / P.O. Box 1000, Hawkesbury, ON K6A 3H1 1-800-267-0850 Fax.: 613-632-6383 The future for the PR Trail has been an issue since UCPR council voted earlier in the year to notify VIA Rail that it might not renew the lease agreement for use of the old railway route as a recreational trail. The When the real snowfall arrives at last snowmobilers will be able to enjoy riding along the Prescott-Russell Trail as usual. The United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) and VIA Rail have agreed on a six- month extension of the existing lease arran- gement for the Prescott-Russell Recreational Trail (PR Trail). “This is excellent news for TOPXNPCJMFST uTBJE8BSEFO4UÊQIBOF4BS - razin, at the end of a special UCPR council session December 17.
Cet hiver, les motoneigistes pourront s’amuser sur le sentier Prescott-Russell. Les Comtés unis de Prescott-Russell et VIA Rail ont convenu d’une prolongation de six mois du contrat de location du sentier récréatif. Cette prolongation permettra aux deux parties de poursuivre les négociations en vue d’un éventuel transfert de propriété du tracé du sentier aux CUPR. —photo CUPR
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UCPR’s decision then hinged on whether or not VIA Rail would offer better financial support terms for renewal of the lease agreement. At the time UCPR council had received a detailed report from its public works department that stated the cost for improvements to the trail to deal with user safety issues and also make it more attrac- tive during the summer season to hikers and cyclists would average $60,000 a year over a ten-year period. The current lease ends on December /PXCPUITJEFTIBWFBHSFFEPO a six-month extension until June 30 2021. A UCPR press release states that lease extension will “provide leeway for parties to come to an agreement early in 2021 for the sale of the Prescott and Russell Recreational Trail by VIA Rail to the UCPR.” Discussions
between UCPR and VIA Rail will continue during the extension period. “VIA Rail Canada is pleased with the agreement reached with the UCPR,” stated Dominique Lemay, VIA Rail chief operating officer, in an email, “which is a positive step GPSXBSE GPSCPUIQBSUJFTBOE UIF&BTUFSO Ontario region, and good news for all during these pandemic times, when outdoor winter activities are more important than ever.” Stéphane Parisien, UCPR chief adminis- trator, noted that the extension also means the trail will be available for use by local and visiting snowmobilers as soon as the UCPR BOEUIF&BTUFSO0OUBSJP4OPXNPCJMF$MVC confirm an insurance liability agreement for the 2020-2021 season. The trail will also be available for cross-country skiers and snowshoers.
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