Catégorie : Reflet-News (Russell-Embrun-Casselman)

During its regular meeting on September 8, Russell Township council considered a draft of a framework for rededicating the town to a new namesake. In July last year, the original namesake Peter Russell was officially removed from the position by council vote, due to his ownership of slaves and the increasing controversy about keeping people like him in positions of cultural significance. 

Council considered the creation of an ad-hoc vetting committee comprised of residents, whose purpose will be to receive incoming submissions and research them for namesake suitability. The submission must come from a township resident, and the nominee must have Russell as a first, middle, or last name. The pros and cons of each nominee must be weighed against each other, and the person nominating the historical figure must say why they think this person is worthy of the honor. 

Mayor Pierre Leroux noted that the namesake does not have to be a single person. He put forward the possibility of rededicating a group of people with the name “Russell”, like a family or an organization, or even rededicating the town every year to a different historical figure that council thinks is worthy of the honor. 

Councillor Cindy Saucier noted that restricting the nomination to historical or local people may be a good idea. She brought up Russell Crow as someone who could theoretically be nominated but may not carry the cultural significance that the township is looking for. This was taken into consideration, but Leroux also said that this is a community decision more than anything, so if the community wanted to rededicate the town to Russell Crow then that will be something that council will have to consider. 

Councillor André Brisson abstained from commenting, saying that he did not think the rededication needed to be changed at all. Leroux reminded him that council had already voted, and so the rededication will happen. 

Council also considered a 30-day submission period followed by a 30-day reviewing period, during which they would hold a “Russell Recognition” event to allow residents to showcase their nominations. Residents would be able to set up a booth in a manner similar to a science fair and explain to visitors why they think their nomination deserves to have the township dedicated to them. There will also be a booth dedicated to Peter Russell, explaining exactly why he does not share the values of the township and why the dedication is being changed. 

Council was undecided on whether the committee was to be ad-hoc or a subset of the Diversity Committee, and Mayor Leroux said he would confer with officials to work out a solution and resubmit the draft for consideration. 

L’amendement permettrait d’autoriser les habitations secondaires et les remises dans toutes les zones où les habitations individuelles, jumelées et en rangée sont une utilisation autorisée et d’autres modifications.   

Le 9 août dernier, le SAT a présenté, devant le conseil, le rapport de WSP concernant l’intégration des habitations accessoires et maisons annexes. Par la suite, la Conservation de la Nation Sud ainsi que les Comtés unis de Prescott et Russell ont émis des commentaires en lien avec cette présentation. Celles-ci relèvent les points suivants :   

1. Il est préférable d’empêcher les habitations accessoires dans les zones où certaines contraintes existent. Le SAT est du même avis.   

2. Une étude sur les services privés devrait être soumise avant l’émission du permis. Le point soulevé est bon, par contre le SAT est d’avis que la capacité du champ septique est confirmée lors du permis de construction et que la quantité et qualité d’eau est la responsabilité du propriétaire.   

3. Il faudrait limiter la grandeur de la maison et le nombre de chambres à coucher. Le SAT croit qu’une maison de 140 mètres carrés (1500 pieds carrés) en rural et une maison équivalent à 50% de la superficie de la maison principale en zone urbaine sont des standards acceptables. Celui-ci est prêt à accepter 55 mètres carrés (592 pieds carrés) minimum.   

4. Il faut demander une entente de plan d’ensemble. Le SAT croit qu’inclure la possibilité de demander une entente de plan d’ensemble est mieux, sans l’obliger.   

5. Il faut permettre seulement les résidences annexes sur des terrains de plus d’une acre. Le SAT est en désaccord.   

Suivant ces commentaires, le SAT recommande d’adopter le règlement 98-2001, tel que présenté durant la séance du 23 août.   

Le conseiller Brière, lui, croit que s’il y a volonté de construire une maison annexe sur un terrain de moins d’une acre, il faut dresser un plan d’ensemble. M. Laflèche affirme que le SAT est en désaccord avec cette proposition, puisqu’une maison annexe peut entrer dans un terrain de 0,7 acre.   

Selon la conseillère Lanthier, s’il y a quelconque inquiétude par rapport au dossier, il est toujours possible de revenir devant le conseil, ce qu’a confirmé le directeur de l’aménagement du territoire, Guylain Laflèche. Le maire St-Amour a aussi abondé dans le même sens.   

Quant au conseiller Forgues, il a expliqué avoir compris l’idée du conseiller Brière, mais qu’il se fie a l’expertise de M. Laflèche.   

Le règlement 98-2001 a donc été adopté par le conseil. 

The federal government announced in July that it is taking the first steps in planning a new high-frequency train service between Toronto and Quebec City. The service would have local stops along the route, including Casselman and Alexandria, and has attracted the attention of municipal governments in the Argenteuil region who also want to be considered. 

The government is contacting Indigenous groups and communities to get their input, and with potential private partners to determine the best model for delivery. The government plans to decide on a model and begin selecting a partner this autumn, along with deciding on a route. 

The proposal includes a step for building dedicated passenger tracks. VIA Rail shares tracks with Canadian National Railways in many places, meaning passenger trains delays while they yield to freight trains. Dedicated passenger tracks would result in shorter travel times and less delays due to freight interruptions, meaning faster trips and arriving on time more often. They would also open up the possibility of electrified transportation technology. 

Casselman Mayor Daniel Lafleur has asked for an increase in service to the municipality before, noting it is a convenient halfway point between Ottawa and Montreal. The municipality has seen more people moving there away from the cities, and Lafleur would like to see their commute become more convenient. 

Municipal leaders north of the Ottawa River see an opportunity with this project. There has been no passenger rail line from Gatineau to Quebec City since it was sold to the Canadian Pacific Railway and became freight-only. MRC d’Argenteuil council has been encouraging the return of a passenger line since November 2018, as they say it is a viable alternative to motor vehicles. 

Last July, Jonathan Pitre and his mother Tina Boileau were nominated to receive Meritorious Service Decorations (MSD) for their work in promoting awareness of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The presentation of the honours was deferred due to COVID, and they will finally be conferred in an honouring ceremony at 2 p.m. on September 17 at Rideau Hall.

Jonathan Pitre, known as the Butterfly Child to many around the world, is remembered for choosing to make a difference. EB is a genetic disorder that causes supersensitivity in the skin, like how a butterfly’s wing is fragile and easy to damage, and it wasn’t very well-known at the time. Jonathan became a leading spokesperson and campaigner for DEBRA Canada, a charity dedicated to researching EB, to help create greater public awareness about the condition. Since his passing, Pitre’s legacy lives on in his mother, who continues his work.

He was named last July for a posthumous awarding of the Meritorious Service Cross. His mother was nominated for the Meritorius Service Medal, in recognition of « her dedication to her son’s work and in carrying on Jonathan Pitre’s legacy. »

The citation attached to the honours, available on the Governor General of Canada’s website, reads:

“Diagnosed with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) as a newborn, Jonathan Pitre became known as the Butterfly Child and the public face of this rare, debilitating skin disorder when he bravely allowed his daily wound-care regimen to be recorded by local media. Committed to fighting the disease, he and his mother, Tina Boileau, helped raise awareness and significant funds for research, which has since led to greater support for other families affected by EB. Even though the disease eventually took Jonathan’s life, his story continues to serve as a source of inspiration to all.

The decoration awarded to the late Mr. Pitre will be received by his mother, Tina Boileau.”

The Meritorious Service Decorations were created by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1984 to recognize exceptional deeds that bring honour to our country. Originally consisting of only the cross, and just for military actions, the medal was added in 1991 at the same time the Decorations were introduced for civilian commendation.