Catégorie : Vision (Clarence-Rockland)

“A great loss for Clarence-Rockland,” said Francis Drouin, Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MP. “Guy had the sense of duty. He knew how to accomplish work while always keeping his sense of humour. He always called me ‘the young one’. We laughed together and talked about politics and agriculture. My sincere condolences to his spouse, Aline, his children and close friends. He will be missed.” 

“My most sincere sympathies to the Desjardins family,” said Amanda Simard, Glengarry-Prescott-Russell MPP. “My thoughts are with you today. Guy: thank you for your work, your contribution to public life, your service to your community. We will always remember and we will never forget you.” 

“We lost a man who really had the municipality booming,” said Jean-Marc Lalonde, former MPP, former mayor of the Town of Rockland, and a city council member under Desjardins. “His door was always open for suggestions about the future of the community. He was always well-respected, he always had a smile and a good sense of humour. We are losing a great man.” 

“Mayor Desjardins and I both came onto UCPR council at the same time,” said Pierre Leroux, Russell Township mayor. “One of my favourite memories was a boat ride we shared at the AMO convention in Niagara Falls. I never laughed so hard. While we didn’t always see eye-to-eye, Mayor Desjardins fought incredibly hard for what he believed in, and I always respected him for that. When Guy smiled, you couldn’t help but do the same. He will be missed.” 

“It has been a great pleasure and privilege to work with him,” said Stéphane Sarrazin, Alfred-Plantagenet Township mayor and current warden for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR). “Over the past years we had the opportunity to work together on many important local issues, such as the widening of Highway 174 and the floods. His dedication, strong leadership, and vision are a demonstration of a true politician who has always worked hard for his constituents. Everybody has something to learn from a man like M. Desjardins. The Prescott-Russell region will forever be influenced by this remarkable politician. Our deepest condolences to his partner, Aline, his daughter, Tanya, his sons, Christian and Jason, as well as to his whole family.” 

“I am so very sorry,” said Robert Kirby, East Hawkesbury Township mayor. “He and I and all the other mayors go along so very well. At social events, he was always there to enjoy things with the rest of us. There will always be something missing for quite some time.” 

“He was a very well-liked person,” said Normand Riopel, Champlain Township mayor. “Very straightforward and a man of his word. If he said something, he meant it. He guided me very well in my own new functions as mayor. I will miss him very much.” 

“It is with great sadness that I learn of the death of Mayor Guy Desjardins of Clarence-Rockland,” said Paula Assaly, mayor of Hawkesbury. “We had a great relationship at the United Counties of Prescott-Russell council. He had a talent for teasing each mayor and the DG, Stéphane Parisien. He used to refill my water glass at the council table and made sure it was always full. He did it with kindness. I will miss him and especially his sense of humour, his direct way of speaking and his authenticity.” 

“When I was appointed in 2018 as mayor of the municipality of Casselman,” said Daniel Lafleur, “M. Desjardins was the first to call me to congratulate me and give me his support at all times. Guy liked to tease his colleagues in the United Counties. His contagious smile put a lot of spirit into our conventions and meetings. Guy often talked about his wife, Aline, whom he loved very much and told us stories about his chickens and ducks. He made us laugh and this will always remain a good memory. He was an important resource person for me and I appreciated his friendship. Hello, my friend, you will remain in my prayers.” 

“Guy was a straight shooter,” said François St-Amour, The Nation mayor. “What he said, he meant. He was a great friend to The Nation Municipality. He was fun to be around, and he liked to joke. He was a good friend, and I’m going to miss him.” 

As of Monday, no communities within Prescott-Russell had marked an active case. There was just one active case in the entire Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), recorded in Cornwall. 

While no new cases were confirmed over the weekend, the region recorded an additional death from COVID-19. EOHU Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, said the deceased, as well as two other people who had died over the past week and a half, did not appear to have been vaccinated. 

The lack of cases came after the June marked the lowest case count of any month since August 2020 in the EOHU. According to the EOHU website, just 23 cases were recorded in the area last month, compared to 265 in May and a record 956 in April.  

“That’s very good news,” Dr. Roumeliotis said over the low case count. “Overall, we are looking at numbers that are very stable and very low. Things are looking good that we’ll enter step three [of the province’s reopening plan] at the end of the three-week period.” 

Vaccines increase 

Meanwhile, almost 200,000 vaccines had been administered across the EOHU as of Monday. Some 198,897 had been administered across the region, 81,000 of which were provided in June alone. About 138,000 of the vaccines were for first doses, with the remainder going to second doses. 

Dr. Roumeliotis said about 80 percent of the local population had received the first dose, with 36 percent having already received the second dose. But he said that dropped to 54 percent of 18 to 29 year olds with first doses, and 52 percent of 12 to 17 year olds. 

“We do encourage you [to get vaccinated], because the quicker we get to a very high number of total, across the board, second doses, the better it’ll be as we reopen the economy and not have to look back,” he said. “Any individual in this group, we’ll make it easier for you.” 

Anyone who had yet to make a first dose appointment, as well as those aged 12 to 17, were allowed to walk into any EOHU clinic without an appointment. Dr. Roumeliotis said he hoped to have 60 to 65 percent of the population fully vaccinated by August. 

“We’ll be in very good stead as we go into the fall, which will have completed a two-dose summer for us,” he said. 

Following consultations with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), the municipal leaders for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), the United Counties of Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry (UCSDG), and the City of Cornwall have lifted the state of emergency for public health effective Wednesday, June 30.