Feb. 28,1996
25 Years Ago
PCH, CLSC, old-age homes to amalgamate: In an effort to save $2 million, five of Pontiac’s health service institutions will amalgamate.
Last week, the separate boards of the Pontiac Community Hospital, CLSC, Manoir Sacre Coeur St. Joseph’s Manor and Pontiac Reception Centre voted for amalgamation.
The fusion is expected to save $600,000 per year in administration costs alone. The amalgamation comes in anticipation of $2 million in budget cuts expected for Pontiac’s health and social services in 96-97.
“The fusion was inevitable because of the amount of cuts,” says CLSC’s Executive Director Charlotte L’Écuyer.
170 participate in 30 Hour Famine: One hundred and seventy students from Pontiac Protestant High School in Shawville took part in . . .
the seventh annual “30 Hour Famine”, sponsored by World Vision International.
A minimum of 85 per cent of money raised through pledges goes to actual poverty relief, says PPHS teacher Rick Valin, one of the faculty directors of the event.
“Now a lot of it stays in Canada to deal with inner city problems,” says Valin.
Students were required to raise a minimum of $10 each to participate in the famine which was held at the high school. From 1 p.m. Friday until 7 p.m. Saturday, students were forbidden to eat anything. They did take regular juice breaks as they kept up an active schedule of games and activities, including a talent show and a round of “Reach for the Top.” They also enjoyed a treasure hunt.
Mar. 3,1971
50 Years Ago
Victoria High School Carnival: Victoria Avenue High School held their carnival Friday. The carnival queen, Marion Kennedy, a grade eleven student, was crowned by Principal Bert Bechamp. The princesses, Brenda Kucharik and Rita Scott, Grade 10 students were decorated by Sisters Clare Burke and Gertrude Poirier.
The broomball game between teachers and students set an atmosphere of merriment which continued throughout the day.
S. Wyman MacKechnie honoured for services to Ayrshire breed: At their annual meeting held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal last week, the Ayrshire Breeders Association of Canada celebrated the 100th anniversary of registering Ayrshire cattle in Canada.
Many awards were handed out to owners of high producing cows, many of these being all-time – all Canadian records, while a rare and noteworthy presentation of an Honorary Life Membership was made to S. Wyman MacKechnie, who served as a director for seven years and was president of the National Organization in 1954
Feb. 28,1946
75 Years Ago
Local News: Capt. Wallace Hodgins, C.A.D.C., arrived on the Queen Elizabeth at New York on Wednesday of last week and was met in Ottawa by his sisters, Mrs. Wm. Kirkpatrick, Miss Nora Hodgins and brother Keith.President H.C. Rowat, G.G. McDowell, N.A. Drummond and Keith Hodgins of the Shawville Curling Club were in Ottawa most of the past week, participating in the Central Canada Bonspiel. They won two and lost two matches in the Wilson Cup play.
Mayor W.C. Schwartz of Shawville has been appointed a member of the Clarendon School board, filling the vacancy cause by the death of Mr. R.J. Tracy.
In a speech on the adoption of the Speech from the Throne in the Quebec Legislature on Wednesday of last week, E.C. Lawn, M.L.A. for Pontiac County, strongly urged the development of Pontiac County. Mr. Lawn favoured the extension of No. 8 Highway from Sheenboro to South Temiskaming and the building of a bridge from Allumette Island to Pembroke.
When milady goes to buy a new fur coat for the winter of 1946, it will cost her more, taking the recent fur auction sale in Montreal as a criterion, said W.M. Ritchie, Chief Fur Inspection and Grading Service, Dominion Department of Agriculture. Most of the pelts offered sold at higher prices than at previous sales with the exception of silver foxes which sold from 3 to 16 per cent less.
There were 13,400 beaver pelts offered and they sold at 35 to 40 per cent higher. The average price per pelt was $54.55 with a top price of $100.50. Mink was up 30 per cent, the average price being $23.40 for ranch mink and $37.75 for wild with a top price of $40.50 for the former and $71.50 for the latter.
Feb. 24,1921
100 Years Ago
Local News: J.M. Argue’s saw mill rebuilt after the fire last year, began operations last week.
A team of Renfrew hockeyists won an overtime game from the seniors here last Thursday evening by a score of 6 – 4. The match was a satisfactory one to the crowd of spectators, which was larger than any similar event this winter. The brand of hockey handed out was strenuous enough to suit anybody and included some really brilliant play, although at times bordering dangerously near the rough-edge variety, which should have no place in any of our supposedly friendly competitions.
In an early morning fire on Saturday in Joynt’s Block, Wellington Street, Ottawa, in which about $30,000 damage was done, Heman Lester and family (formerly of this village) who occupied apartments on the second floor of the building were among the sufferers.
They lost all their belongings and had to flee from the burning building clad only in their night clothes.
Quite a number of the race track enthusiasts in town attended the ice meet in Quyon on Wednesday and Thursday last and report the event to have been very successful. The promoters were favoured with excellent weather and conditions on the river enabled them to have a first-rate track, one of the best that has ever been laid out, it is said.
The new provincial liquor law, whereby the government takes full control off the sale of spirituous liquors, received its third reading in the legislative assembly on Thursday. The measure has still to run the gauntlet of the legislative council but is not likely to meet with much opposition there.
Feb. 27,1896
125 Years Ago
Local News: The band concert on Tuesday evening last, was fairly well attended, considering the bad state of the roads.
Work on the new iron steamer, the “G.B. Greene” is being rapidly pushed ahead. When completed she will be one of the largest and best equipped vessels on he Ottawa River. The steamer is totally composed of iron and steel and has an air tight compartment fore and aft, so that in case of any leakage, it will almost be impossible to sink her.
Thomas Mangan, a former stage driver between Eganville and Cobden, had his leg broken on Friday 14th inst. He was drawing cement from the Egan Estate on the O.A. and P.S. to Victoria Lake when the load upset and threw him out. One barrel of cement rolled over his leg causing the accident. He managed to unhitch and got on the back of one of the horses and drove to Victoria Lake where he secured assistance.
The Upper St. Lawrence is to be divided into two districts by the meteorological service for weather probabilities purposes. One will be called the “Ottawa Valley”, and will include the counties of Carleton, Renfrew, Lanark, Russell , Ottawa and Argenteuil.
Judge Malhiot who went to Paris some time ago to consult specialists regarding his sight, is reported to have gone quite blind.
It is rumoured that Mr. P O’Reilly of Ottawa has a desire to contest this county at the next federal election as the standard-bearer of the Liberal party.
Times are rather dull around the corner in Yarm at present, owing to the bad roads and stormy weather.
Several teams arrived home from the woods last week.
Master Ben McConnell who was visiting friends at Black River returned home last week. Judging from his numerous visits to Portage du Fort, our young merchant does not intend keeping bachelor’s hall very much longer.
