Corrections officer saves man from suicide
Recognizing a former inmate from the Thorold jail straddling the bridge over Hwy. 406, Rocky Newton, a corrections officer and crisis negotiator at the Niagara Detention Centre in Thorold, said, “I was watching and as I drove past it, I saw the legs swing over to get to the other side of the bridge.”
Newton turned down a nearby side street to get a better look.
“And as I turned, I could recognize who the guy was, because this guy has been coming to the jail frequently throughout my career,” mostly incarcerated for “street crimes,” such as theft, he told the Thorold News.
Exiting his truck, Newton said he “started shouting” the man’s name, alerting him that he’d been recognized.
“He said, ‘I’m gonna jump.’ I kept yelling, ‘Stop, don’t do it! Wait for me. I want to talk to you’.”
“And he said, ‘Okay, I’ll come back up’” from the ledge, explained Newton.
“He got back up on the bridge and walked over to the side street, sat on the grass, and bawled his eyes out. He said he has no job, no money for rent, and Out of the Cold hasn’t opened yet” to shelter homeless people for the season.
He seemed to be “high on crystal meth. I found needles and drugs on him, and I took it and put it in his coat pockets, and put his coat in my truck.”
After talking “for a good 10 minutes,” Newton said, “I convinced him he had to go to the hospital.”
Beaverdams bird not ready for swan song yet
A two-hour animal rescue attempt came to an abrupt end when an injured swan eluded rescuers in Beaverdams.
At the scene, OPG (Ontario Power Generation) staff told the Thorold News they’d received a call in late August, that a swan swimming in Lake Gibson—which falls under OPG’s mandate—was in distress since its wing and leg were entangled in some discarded plastic fishing line.
Lincoln Humane Society worker Kedra Servos told the Thorold News that according to a neighbour, at that time, a fish hook and part of the fishing line was removed by a resident, enabling the swan to swim. However, although the line is no longer around its wing, it’s still restricting its leg and foot from normal movement.
Humane Society animal control officer Jordan Froese and a local resident, who lent his rowboat, set sail to try to lure the swan to shore. The two swans seemed wary of the boat being in the water with them, and after being chased around a short while, both flew away; the injured swan barely skimming the water’s surface.
Special Olympian skater ready to Rock the Rink
Danielle Waters was chosen to join champion skaters, performing at Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir's Rock the Rink tour at the Meridian Centre.
Danielle, age 28, “has Down Syndrome,” explained her Thorold coach, Nancy Jo Gamache. “And that’s about as far as her challenge goes.”
She added, “A Special Olympian is dancing in every one of their shows.”
“They’re my favourites,” Danielle told the Thorold News.
“We saw them a couple years ago at the ice show, and she’s wanted to meet them for years,” said Margaret Waters, Danielle’s mom. “She skates in memory of her father, who passed away six years ago.”
Residents respond to St. David’s Road options
Named one of the worst roads in Ontario in a CAA survey, St. David’s Road is getting a total makeover—from Collier Road to Front Street.
Extending the dead end street at Townline Road West, and linking it to Front Street by the Big Red Markets warehouse parking lot, is one option the city is considering.
Another is reconfiguring the intersection at St. David’s Road and Townline Road, where many drivers currently “cut through” the Avondale parking lot.
Three consultants from R. V. Anderson Associated Ltd. and city staff showed design drawings outlining possible options, and answered questions at a public information session at city hall, attended by about 30 people.
Five mayors sign memorandum of understanding in Thorold
Five Niagara mayors met at Thorold City Hall to sign an agreement to share goods and services.
Port Colborne Mayor Bill Steele told the Thorold News the event was symbolic of “Five cities celebrating together with the best interest of our ratepayers. Signing this agreement will help all the municipalities obtain goods and services at the best prices.”
The initiative began in February, 2018, between Thorold and Welland, “And it was successful with the two of us,” stated Thorold Mayor Terry Ugulini. ”I’m sure it will be more successful with the five of us.”
He explained that the Province gave $720,000 for Niagara leaders “to pursue such efficiencies.”
Wainfleet Mayor Kevin Gibson and Pelham Mayor Marv Junkin said they were also “looking forward to anticipating savings for the town.”
According to City of Thorold CAO Manoj Dilwaria, collaborating on RFPs would help “get better pricing. And we can share staff among our municipalities as well, such as building inspectors.”
Robertson remembered for helping cancer patients
Lynda Robertson lost her battle with breast cancer, but her inspiration lives on, in the form of a memorial award to help other cancer patients.
“My daughter Lynda was a two-time cancer survivor,” Thorold resident Teri Dempster told the Thorold News.
“She was a truck driver for 40 years, and a very good friend of hers—Joanne MacKenzie Millan—started Trucking for a Cure,” an event that has helped fight breast cancer for the past decade.
“This year, my daughter died of cancer on April 24, so in remembrance of her, and in honour of her, this year they dedicated a plaque in her name.”
The Lynda Robertson Memorial Trucking for a Cure Achievement Award will be presented annually to the driver who raises the highest amount of funds in the event.
Robertson will be remembered for her brightly coloured wigs, and her sense of humour, even during her illness.
Historic open house
Channelling the spirit of Thorold’s first mayor, Andre Wagner greeted guests on his Queen Street verandah in top hat and tails, as Mayor Charles Grenville might have done.
He and his wife, Vicky, have spent the past five months restoring Charles Grenville’s historic homestead to its former glory, and celebrated its transformation with friends and family at the 1856 designated heritage dwelling.
Port Robinson pays tribute to First Responders
Malakai Dirks dressed as a police officer and Tessa Schell as a firefighter, but they weren’t Halloween costumes.
The kids came to Club Castropignano in uniforms reflecting what they want to be when they grow up, which was perfectly suited to the First Responders Appreciation Day in October, hosted by Pastor Clint Sears of Port Robinson Community Church.
Led by a piper, the children joined a procession of firefighters, paramedics and police officers, who were honoured for the second consecutive year for tackling crisis situations.
Artisan Ridge cuts ribbon on Phase 2
Tony DiFruscio joinied his colleagues in a ribbon-cutting of a model home in Phase 2 of the Beaverdams Road subdivision, located on the former Exolon property.
“We’re thrilled to see homes sprouted on 60 acres of a former industrial site,” said president and CIO Daniel Odorico of Downing Street, a Hamilton company that specializes in brownfield development.
Artisan Ridge—which will include some affordable housing units in Phase 2—is being constructed in three phases, he added, with a total of 450 homes scheduled to be completed by 2022 or 2023.
Top dogs take home hardware
Pooches and pet owners dressed up to win prizes during Thorold’s third annual Canine Costume Contest and Puppy Promenade, held in downtown Thorold.
New parking enforcement officer part of pilot project
Jason Simpson, the city’s chief building official, asked council to support a pilot parking enforcement program.
A budget overrun of $6,000 would be required to purchase uniforms, a computer and software for a new parking enforcement officer, he said, who would be hired to work up to 21 hours a week—and an additional $9,800 would be needed to fund the project’s execution until May, 2020.
“The individual would be doing parking enforcement throughout the entire city,” he explained, “but downtown would definitely be a large part of it.”
City CAO Manoj Dilwaria explained, “The pilot project is going to help our existing bylaw officers,” who are currently handling complaints in the downtown core and other areas “on the weekend, as well.”
Song of the Grand a moving musical
A musical World War II love story, set on the banks of the Grand River and the battlefields of Europe, made a one-time only appearance at St John's Anglican Church.
From 1938 until 1944, pilots from across the Commonwealth and the U.S.A. trained at large and small airports throughout Canada in preparation for joining the Allied forces in Europe. One of these airports was in Dunnville, where 2,436 pilots trained at the #6 S.F.T.S. (Service Flying Training School), located beside the Grand River where it flows into Lake Erie.
Emotional, memorable, and moving, Song of the Grand is a true story, representative of many of these young pilots, co-producer Susan Hall told the Thorold News. She and her husband, George have lived in Dunnville for 41 years and George wrote the musical, based on two of his relatives—an uncle and a great-uncle—who were among those Dunnville pilots joining Allied forces in Europe during World War II. The concert raised funds to support the St. John’s music program.
Thorold Job Fair matches employers with employees
A Thorold Job Fair, featuring 14 employers ready to recruit employees, was held at Prince of Wales School in October.
A partnership between the Pine Plaza YMCA Employment Center and Terence Schilstra of the Village Church, Schilstra told the Thorold News, “The idea for the job fair came out of our One Thorold meetings. I reached out to them after they presented at one of our gatherings.”
OneThorold is a volunteer initiative whose goal is to enhance Thorold, and includes members from local churches, community groups, business owners, city officials, and individuals.
Take home Thorold postcards
The historic Decou House, the Keefer Mansion, the Peace Monument, and of course, the Canal… Some of Thorold’s most meaningful—and captivating—sites have been captured and converted into postcards. Sets of eight picturesque postcards cost $7 plus tax, and are available at Henderson’s Pharmasave, Figg Street Co., and a Yellow Flower Basket, all on Front Street.
Vandermaas receives provincial award for 20 years of volunteering
Thorold was one of 41 municipalities that hosted 52 ceremonies across Ontario, honouring its volunteers.
“Your organizations have nominated you for these awards because your service has greatly improved the quality of life for those in your community,” said regional advisor Jennifer Hay, on behalf of the Ministry of Heritage, Sports, Tourism and Culture Industries, at John-Michael’s Banquet Centre in Thorold South.
Nominated by Thorold’s Chief Librarian, Joanne DeQuadros, Tony Vandermaas received the Ontario Volunteer Service Award for his 20 years of service to the Thorold Public Library. The founder of Thorold’s annual Santa Claus Parade, Vandermaas has also volunteered on numerous other Thorold committees through the years.
What Canada Summer Games means to Thorold
At a packed public meeting, Doug Hamilton, chair of the Canada 2021 Summer Games, said the Games will see 5,000 topnotch athletes visit Thorold over two weeks, and create “2,100 jobs, just by the construction of this facility,” describing the new Canada Games Park.
Thorold’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan noted, “We need to address aging arenas,” as well as acquiring new parks and fitness service providers for its residents. In 2013, an advisory committee recommended a new arena to replace the Whyte Arena and repairs to the Doherty Arena, at an estimated cost of $15 million to $20 million, said Hamilton. Two arenas are planned for ice hockey and figure skating at the Games Park, and “dry floor sports like lacrosse, in the summer.”
The new park will also include a track and field complex, a beach volleyball facility, a “quad gymnasium” with four full-size basketball courts, and space for combative sports, such as wrestling, along with a heated indoor walking/running four-lane track on the second floor, plus free parking.
A 10,000 square foot Brock Niagara Centre for Health and Wellbeing will accommodate special needs athletes, stroke victims, and people with spinal cord injuries, among others.
An 8,000 square foot administrative space “targeted towards community groups” would be available for “provincial and national sports organizations, and the Games Committee has partnered with the Canadian Sports Institute of Ontario, “a network of high-performance training programs across Canada for developing athletes on Olympic teams.”
The Games Park would be “owned and managed by a partnership group,” consisting of the city of Thorold, the city of St. Catharines, the Niagara Region, and Brock University.
“Most of the funding comes from the Ontario and federal governments. There has to be a local contribution for them to commit; additional contributions” from the four partners, he said, adding that lawyers were “working on the details” of the partnership agreement.
