Les éditions André Paquette

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

  • OPP offer mental and physical health resources

    OPP offer mental and physical health resources

    The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have noticed a recent increase in mental health-related calls. In response, they are urging people to reach out and ask for help if they are facing difficulties or considering harming themselves. The OPP have released the following list of community partners that are always available to help.

    Prescott-Russell Victim Services is available to help anyone trapped in dangerous or distressing domestic situations and can be contacted at 613-632-5282.

    The Canadian Mental Health Association is available to help anyone dealing with negative mental health disorders and can be contacted at 613-938-0435.

    Centraide/United Way collects donations and employs volunteers to help those in financial distress. The Prescott-Russell chapter can be contacted at 613-632-4699.

    Prescott-Russell Community Services organizes a number of services for residents age 55 and over, including senior social groups, grocery deliveries, safety and wellness check-ins, transportation for errands and medical appointments, personal and home support services, and matching volunteers to non-profits. They can be contacted at 1-800-267-0853.

    Alcoholics Anonymous is a support group for people who find themselves overly reliant on alcohol and want a structured environment to help them quit. They can be contacted at 613-938-1984.

    Nicole Taylor and Paul Taylor Sr, a local family, run a help group for those on the autism spectrum or caregivers for autistic children. They can be contacted at 613-371-4440 or 450-566-6111.

    The VALORIS organization is a multi-service agency for children, teenagers, adults, and their families living in Prescott-Russell. They offer a range of developmental services and aid programs, including mental health programs, community participation, and help for those in abusive or neglectful environments.

    The Hawkesbury General Hospital (HGH) is available for general health emergencies and more specified situations, including mental health crises and addiction treatment. The crisis line is available at 1-866-996-0991 or 24 hours a day 613-722-6914. For more information, please go to https://hgh.ca/programs-services/mental-health-addiction/

  • Four stolen vehicles recovered in Russell Township

    Four stolen vehicles recovered in Russell Township

    During the early morning of January 3, four vehicles total were stolen from Russell Township, two from Embrun and two from Casselman.

    One of the victims was tracking his vehicle with a GPS device he placed and relaying the information to the OPP allowed them to head the vehicle off with a tire deflation device. The stolen 2022 Dodge Ram Rebel was successfully recovered. Another one of the vehicles made it all the way into Quebec, where SQ officers were able to intercept it and take the perpetrator into custody.

    As a result of the investigation, the OPP have charged four people with a variety of crimes.

    Vanessa Duval, 27, from Montreal was charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and mischief under $5,000. Anthony Grenier, 19, from Montreal was charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 and possession of an automobile master key. Finally, Keven Riffon, 24, and an unnamed minor both from Montreal were charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of an automobile master key, and two counts of failure to comply with a probation order.

    In the face of this spree of auto thefts, the OPP is offering tips on how to keep your vehicles safe. These tips are simple things: always roll up the windows and lock the doors, keep the vehicle in a locked garage if possible, always park in a well-lit area, never leave valuable objects in plain sight, and never leave your vehicle unattended while it’s running.

    Other recommendations include blocking high-value vehicles in your driveway with other vehicles, installing anti-theft and tracking devices in out-of-sight locations, and keeping your key fobs in a Faraday Box to prevent copying. Securing your parking area with brighter lighting and security cameras will also help.

    By following these simple tips, the chance of becoming a victim of vehicle theft lowers considerably.

    Anyone with information about this or another incident is asked to contact the Russell County OPP at 613-443-4499 or the OPP Communication Centre at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000.

  • Le verglas cause des pannes pour plusieurs centaines d’usagers

    Le verglas cause des pannes pour plusieurs centaines d’usagers

    À 7 h le 5 janvier, Environnement Canada a émis un avertissement de pluie verglaçante pour l’est de l’Ontario. La pluie de la veille s’est réduite à une bruine, qui persistera tout au long de la matinée, et la baisse des températures la gèle à mesure qu’elle tombe. Les routes seront glacées jusqu’à ce que les températures remontent dans l’après-midi.

    Dans tout l’Est-Ontarien, c’est autour de 4 500 usagers qui n’ont pas d’électricité. Hydro One planifie restaurer l’électricité pour tous les usagers avant midi, mais certaines complications pourraient rallonger l’attente.

    Les personnes qui veulent rapporter une panne d’électricité peuvent le faire par téléphone au 1-800-434-1235 ou en ligne sur le site web d’Hydro One.

  • The storm before Christmas

    The storm before Christmas

    A massive snowstorm ripped through Ontario and Quebec just days before the Christmas weekend, plunging communities into darkness and causing severe auto accidents on major roads and highways. Emergency crews were on standby on 24-hour rotations to respond to any issues that arose, and storm watches were in effect across Ontario.

    “There is a severe storm affecting our community,” stated a news release from Russell Township issued December 23. “Our fire and infrastructure teams are responding to issues as quickly as possible, there are power lines, utility poles, and trees down in many areas of the community. We are working with local and regional emergency services to get these hazards cleared.”

    Businesses closed and events were cancelled across the United Counties of Prescott and Russell. Hawkesbury cancelled a free movie night, Champlain Township closed the entirety of County Road 17 between Alfred-Plantagenet and Champlain, and several townships cancelled garbage collection that Friday.

    Cleanup crews were worried about the rain that began falling on Christmas Day, rain that would freeze once temperatures dropped again. Even before ice was added into the mix, the storm was pushing cars offroad and into each other, leaving emergency responders scrambling to rescue drivers and families that were left adrift in snowbanks and slippery roads. High winds and blowing snow resulted in low visibility, prompting Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers to close various stretches of the highway to traffic. Eventually, the entire section of Highway 417 between Ottawa and the Quebec border was closed to all traffic in both directions, and drivers that attempted to use the highway were detained.

    “Highway 417 is closed in both directions from the Quebec border to Ottawa due to the poor weather and driving conditions,” the Ontario Provincial Police said in a tweet. “Highway 401 remains closed from Northumberland to the Quebec border. If you come across an on-ramp that is not blocked off, DO NOT enter the highway. If you are driving on other roads and get stuck/in a collision there may be a significant delay for emergency services to respond.”

    Flights were grounded as soon as the weather picked up, and VIA Rail cancelled all trains in the Quebec-Windsor corridor as fallen trees, frozen switches, and broken-down trains made tracks impassable. In one notable case, passengers were stranded on a train near the city of Cobourg for nearly 20 hours as crews worked to clear the tracks enough for them to reach a station. Passengers with medical conditions were removed by ambulance shortly into the stop, but food and water quickly ran out onboard, leading to outcry from concerned family members.

    Thankfully, there was plenty of warning for officials and emergency crews, so most of the damage was averted. Cleanup went smoothly after the weather settled, and a few days after things were back to normal.

    “We are up a running at full capacity again,” said The Nation Mayor Francis Brière. “The staff deserve a huge hand of applause, they were fantastic during the storm.”

  • Report de l’ouverture du Nation Sportsplex

    Report de l’ouverture du Nation Sportsplex

    L’inauguration du nouveau Sportsplex sur le chemin Limoges a été retardée après que Centaur Floor Systems ait fait savoir que le revêtement de sol installé ne répondait pas à ses normes et devait être remplacé. Cela a repoussé la date d’ouverture du Sportsplex de décembre 2022 à janvier 2023, pendant que Centaur Floor Systems attend que le nouveau gazon soit fabriqué et livré de Montréal.

    « Ils doivent attendre et le fabriquer à nouveau », a déclaré la directrice des loisirs Carol Ann Scott.

    Le Sportsplex a commencé à accepter les réservations en novembre pour les ligues de soccer qui souhaitent utiliser le nouveau complexe et le canton espère qu’elles n’auront pas à attendre trop longtemps pour le nouveau plancher. Cette fois, le plancher de remplacement sera inspecté avant d’être installé afin d’éviter que le problème ne se répète. La municipalité sera créditée des dépenses supplémentaires liées au remplacement du gazon.

    Le Sportsplex est une installation intérieure polyvalente qui comprend un terrain de football aux deux tiers de la taille réglementaire de la FIFA, une piste de marche et une salle communautaire pouvant accueillir jusqu’à 150 personnes.

  • Russell High raises funds with ‘Baskets For’

    Russell High raises funds with ‘Baskets For’

    Russell High School (RHS) has revived its ‘Baskets For’ event after three years of being cancelled, and the recreational sports celebration pulled in the largest crowd the event has ever seen. The after-school fundraiser on December 15 pitted the RHS Timberwolves senior boys’ basketball team and the alumni basketball team against their rival teams from St. Thomas Aquinas.

    In addition to the exhibition basketball games, the Russell Spirit Squad took to the court at half time to perform a dance they’ve been working on since early fall.

    “It is always great to see two cross-town rival schools come together for a common goal each year,” said organizing teacher and basketball coach Kimberly MacKinnon. “RHS is always looking for community connections and ways to help build rapport with community members. It is our way to give back to the community each year.”

    The ‘Baskets For’ event was first held in the 2014-2015 school year with support from the RHS Athletic Council. MacKinnon organized the event then as well, donating the money raised then to Jonathan Pitre for his medical expenses.

    “I came up with the event when I heard about Jonathan Pitre, a.k.a. the Butterfly Child, a student at an Embrun Catholic school who lived in our community and had epidermolysis bullosa,” said MacKinnon. “I knew I just had to do something to help this young man and his family with the cost of his treatments and his wish to see the Northern Lights. Being the basketball coach at Russell High School I knew I wanted to tie in basketball somehow.”

    The fundraiser then became an annual event that donated to local non-profit organization Kawabunga Group in 2015-2016, raised funds to help build the Russell Sports Dome in 2016-2017, helped support a local student battling brain cancer in 2017-2018, and donated to the Embrun Food Bank in 2018-2019.

    Tickets for the event were $5 each, and canteen items and raffle tickets were sold throughout the night. All told, the event raised $1,688 to provide support funding for the Russell Splash Pad. This is the second-most amount of money the event has ever raised.

    “I’m so proud of the efforts made to make this event a success,” said RHS Principal Dominique Bertrand. “Our Russell High School community really has school spirit and generous hearts.”

  • Le premier bébé de l’année est né à l’HMDW

    Le premier bébé de l’année est né à l’HMDW

    Le nouveau-né Ruby est le troisième membre de la fratrie Bergeron à naître à l’Hôpital Mémorial du district de Winchester (HMDW).  Elle a été le premier bébé à naître a l’HMDW en 2023, le 2 janvier à 6 h 13, de Selena et Marc Bergeron.

    « Nous aimons l’hôpital de Winchester parce que c’est un petit hôpital confortable où l’on reçoit des soins exceptionnels, a déclaré Selena. Toute l’expérience et l’équipe sont merveilleuses, et je n’irais nulle part ailleurs. »

    Ruby a profité d’un appel vidéo pour rencontrer son frère Elliot, qui a presque deux ans, et sa sœur Cora, qui aura bientôt cinq ans, peu de temps après sa naissance.

    « Cora est aux anges car elle voulait vraiment une petite sœur. Elliot n’est pas tout à fait sûr de ce qui se passe, mais il va avoir une grosse surprise, a ajouté Selena. Nous aurons trois fêtes d’anniversaire le même mois, ce qui devrait être assez amusant. »

    L’équipe de l’HMDW a offert ses félicitations à la famille ainsi que ses meilleurs vœux de bonheur pour la nouvelle année.

  • First Christmas baby born at WDMH

    First Christmas baby born at WDMH

    Winchester Memorial District Hospital (WDMH) saw a number of Christmas Miracles born on December 25, but the first to arrive was Aila. Her mother, Sarah, gave the gift of life while Aila’s siblings, a four-year-old sister and a seven-year-old brother, stayed home in Ottawa with their dad and opened Christmas presents.

    “I am very happy,” said a tired Sarah. “Everything went very well. Thank you very much.”

    “I am so glad I had the opportunity to help with the miracle of life this Christmas at the Winchester Hospital,” said Dr. Shamsa Deeb, who delivered the baby. “This is the family’s third baby at the hospital and I’m grateful to have been with them for all of them. The labour and delivery went very well with the exceptional support from the WDMH team that I am very happy to be a part of.”

    After the birth, the WDMH team delivered a gift of their own and presented newborn Aila with a festive hat, a pair of mittens, and booties.

  • Rule-breaking snowmobilers warned

    Rule-breaking snowmobilers warned

    “This is something that happens every year, » explains Chuck Boyer, club president. “Right now, none of the trails are available. »

    The ground has to freeze before the groomers can hit the snowmobile trails. With the freezing and thawing of the last few weeks, it has been impossible for the groomers to get on the trails without damaging the ground.

    Most of the snowmobile trails are on local farmers’ land. Groomers and snowmobiles passing through fields that are not yet frozen can damage the seeds already planted for the following year.

    Also, many trails are in ditches. The snow covering the ditches often hides the water that is not yet frozen, causing problems for the groomers.

    Farmers’ decision

    Boyer explained that it is the farmers who decide on the availability of trails on their land, and that these decisions must be respected by snowmobilers. Some farmers will agree to let snowmobilers pass before the ground is completely frozen, but others will decide to wait longer.

    When snowmobilers don’t respect the farmers’ feelings on access savailability, some of those landholders may decide to stop allowing snowmobilers on their land altogether.

    « It happens every year, » said Boyer.

    This then causes problems for the snowmobile clubs, which have to find new trails or else their members ride on the pavement of county roads for several miles.

    Illegal activity

    It is illegal for snowmobilers to ride on unavailable trails. Those who do so may be fined for trespassing on private property. Harsher fines may apply if snowmobilers damage farmers’ property.

    « We hope everyone respects the rules and the wishes of the landowners, » said Boyer.

    In a normal winter season snowmobile trails are available from mid-January, and the season is only six to seven weeks long.

    “As soon as there’s snow, you want to go out and ride, » said Boyer. “At the club, we’re all volunteers and snowmobile fans too. »

  • Les Vikings sur une série de victoires

    Les Vikings sur une série de victoires

    Dans leur premier match du mois, le 4 décembre, les Vikings ont triomphé facilement des Golden Knights d’Ottawa Ouest. Ils ont pris une avance considérable en première période et l’ont maintenue pendant le reste du match, ce qui a mené à une victoire de 9 à 5. Les buts de Casselman ont été marqués par Brendon Watson, Liam Faille, Nicolas Staples, Sébastien Ouimet, Nicolas Ouellette, Vincent Bastien, Tyler Stewart et Mathieu Cloutier, assistés par Alexis Lafrance, Marc-Olivier McCarthy, Todd McBain et Tristan Simoneau.

    Lors de leur match suivant, le 8 décembre, les Vikings ont pris une avance spectaculaire de 6-3 sur les Rebelles de Char-Lan. Les Vikings ont pris une avance considérable en deuxième période, et malgré leurs efforts, les Rebels n’ont pas pu remonter la pente. Les buts des Vikings ont été marqués par Andrew Baccardax, Justin Wammes, Ouimet, Noah Bath et Connor Cook, assistés par Cody Homer, Nicolas Elie, Stewart, Bastien, McCarthy, Lafrance et Liam Faille.

    Le lendemain, le 9 décembre, les Vikings ont affronté les Panthères d’Embrun à l’aréna d’Embrun. Ils n’ont pas été en mesure de surmonter l’offensive agressive d’Embrun et ont perdu 1-3. Le seul but des Vikings a été marqué par Cloutier et assisté par Elie.

    La semaine suivante, le 15 décembre, les Vikings ont gagné 5-3 contre les Golden Knights d’Ottawa Ouest. Les deux équipes étaient à égalité jusqu’à la troisième période où les Vikings ont pris les devants. Les buts des Vikings ont été marqués par Wammes, Lafrance, McCarthy et Cloutier, assistés par Cook, Ouellette, Nicholas Lankester et Ouimet.

    Quelques jours plus tard, le 18 décembre, les Vikings ont affronté les Royals de Richmond au Richmond Memorial Centre. Les Vikings et les Royals ont fait jeu égal pendant toute la partie, aucun des deux ne prenant l’avantage sur l’autre pendant très longtemps. Le match s’est terminé par une égalité et s’est prolongé jusqu’en prolongation, où Casselman a réussi à marquer le but à deux minutes de la fin pour s’assurer la victoire. Les buts des Vikings ont été marqués par Nico Pozzebon, Lafrance, Ouellette, Elie et Stewart, assistés par Wammes, Ouimet, McCarthy, Simoneau et Bastien.

    Dans leur dernier match de l’année, les Vikings ont affronté les Panthères d’Embrun et ont réussi à obtenir une victoire de dernière minute. Les Panthers ont pris une avance de deux buts en première période, mais les Vikings ont marqué trois buts en deuxième période et deux en troisième période pour assurer une victoire de 5-4. Les buts des Vikings ont été marqués par Ouimet, Stewart, McCarthy, Bastien et Pozzebon, assistés par Elie, Ouellette et Cook.

    Leur premier match de la nouvelle année aura lieu le 5 janvier contre les Royals de Richmond au Complexe JR Brisson.