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editionap.ca
Bowl for Kids Sake attracts more than 1000
By Sara Lauzon Special to The Journal
The opening of this bridge was a major event, with many prominent figures in- vited to attend the ceremony. The Roosevelt Swing Bridge is one of the bridges most spoken about, because the center of the bridge would pivot to allow ships to pass through the Cornwall Canal. Not long after the bridge officially opened, it was planked over and opened to automobile traffic. Twenty-eight years later, the Cornwall canal received another facelift: a new bridge. This is the bridge Cornwall would see lining the sky for the next 52 years. The South Channel Bridge opened on December 1, 1958. Mayor Thomas Bushnell of Massena, and Mayor Archie Lavigne of Cornwall, cut the ceremonial ribbon for the official opening. The struc- ture, a high level suspension bridge, measured 1061 meters long and 8.2 me- ters wide. The North Channel Bridge, linking together Cornwall and Cornwall Island, opened to traffic on July 3, 1962. This bridge, also a high level structure, mea- sured 1625 meters long, 8.2 meters wide and was 36.6 meters above the canal below it. The first person to drive across the newly built bridge was Raymonde Champagne. Recreating the moment she lived over fifty years prior, Cham- pagne was also the first person to drive across Cornwall’s new low-level bridge when it opened in January. For many Cornwall citizens, the Sea- way International Bridge holds a spe- cial place in their hearts. The author’s grandfather, Archie Latour, moved from Mattawa, Ontario to help construct this glorious structure. Being far from home, he decided to stay in a boarding house on Sydney Street. This boarding house belonged to the author’s grandmother, Rolande Séguin. Without the construc- tion of our bridge, they might not have met. The Seaway International Bridge is part of my family history, as it is for many people. Some considered it to be an eyesore, others a Cornwall trademark. Some didn’t pay attention to it at all. Regard- less, Cornwall’s skyline will never look the same after the bridge demolition is completed in 2016.
CORNWALL | On Friday January 24, 2014, at 7 am, citizens of Cornwall and Corn- wall Island started driving across the new low-level bridge. Leaving an amazing his- tory of border crossing behind it, the new bridge opening marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. The idea of crossing the border is not new. People have been crossing the St. Lawrence River for hundreds of years. Cornwall’s “border crossing” history be- gan in 1799, starting with a small service conducted by David McCuen. McCuen used one bateau and two canoes to get people to and from St. Regis and Corn- wall. This was only the beginning. Some 100 years later, Cornwall began constructing its first bridge, an experi- ence that ended in tragedy. On Sep- tember 6, 1898, with the bridge near completion, pier #2 disappeared into the rushing St. Lawrence River, bringing two of the bridge spans down with it. Fifteen workers lost their lives in this tragedy. Six of these men are buried in St. Columban’s Cemetery andWoodlawn Cemetery. Co-workers, living in a time when money was scarce, pitched in for the their burials. Many of the deceased hailed from far away and would not have had families with funds to pay for their funerals or a tombstone. Ten years later, Cornwall was struck by a similar catastrophe. On June 23, 1908, the south bank of the canal broke, about 500 feet west of Lock 18. The Lock Master at the time, Alexander Eamer, opened all the gates and valves at Lock 18 to relieve water pressure. He phoned Lock 19 to in- struct them to close everything up, but it was too late. The bridge’s “swing span pier” tipped over, bringing yet another Cornwall bridge down to the ground. There were no deaths, but two were in- jured in the destruction. Twenty-six years after its second bridge catastrophe, Cornwall welcomed the opening of The Roosevelt Swing Bridge on June 30, 1934. The opening ceremony took place on the south side of Cornwall Island, south of the Canadian Customs House.
ty, had been named Co-Chair for this year’s event. “It was hard filling in the shoes of past Co-Chairs, such as Tony Luis,” he said. “But I think that we did a good job this year.” Iwachniuk has, in the past, along with Storm Realty, provided time and resources to BBBS. “Steven has been great for our or- ganization,” stressed Amanda Brisson, Ex- ecutive Director of BBBS. “He does several things for us, such as inviting every employ- ee of BBBS to his Christmas parties, because we don’t have any ourselves.” Every year, Storm Realty hosts a barbeque that sees all the donations made being giv- en to the organization.“Storm has chosen BBBS as its charity of choice,” said Iwach- niuk. “We just love helping them out.” Several companies formed teams, such as Tim Hortons, the event’s main sponsor, as well as Zumba classes, construction com- panies and many more. The event has been organized yearly for the past 35 years and shows no sign of stopping.
FRANCIS RACINE inforeflet.news@eap.on.ca
CORNWALL | On February 8, the lanes of both Nativity Bowling and Olympia Bowl- ing were full of smiling faces, as more than one thousand participants took up the sport in order to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). “Bowl for Kids sake is Big Brothers Big Sis- ters signature event,” explained Co-Chair David Murphy during the event.“It brings in so many different people of the community who just want to help.” Murphy went on to explain how ev- ery player is asked to donate at least $20, but some go way over the amount asked. “There are two individuals here who to- gether bring about $10,000 for each Bowl for Kids sake,” he said. Steven Iwachniuk, founder of Storm Real-
Photo Francis Racine
Above, organizers of the event pose with bowling balls. Left to right, Co-Chair Da- vid Murphy, BBBS Executive Director Amanda Brisson, Co-Chair Steve Iwachniuk and BBBS President Bill Makinson. Bellow, four teams are shown, the “Tartan-Tastic”, the “Gutterly Ridiculous”, the “Incredibowlers” and the “Lafishoire Lane Slayers”. In the top row are Robin McDonell, Eric McDonell, Allison St. Louis, Makayla Bergeron, Keitha Fisher, Rich Lavictoire and Rachel Roy. In the bottom row are ShaylaMcDonell, Innes McDonell, Marley McDonell, Alyssa Bergeron, Eric Bergeron, Ethan Lavictoire, Kadence Gault and Hannah Lavictoire.
Photo Sara Lauzon
On September 6, 1898, with the bridge near completion, pier #2 disappeared into the rushing St. Lawrence River, bringing two of the bridge spans down with it. Fifteen workers lost their lives in this tragedy. Six of these men are buried in St. Columban’s Cemetery andWoodlawn Cemetery.
Photo: Sara Murphy
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