Taking a sharp U-turn, council reversed its committee decision, made just 10 days earlier, and voted to approve an Official Plan Amendment to enable a golf course residential development to proceed in the village of Wellington, in a meeting last week.

EXPANDING LABYRINTH

It has been a long and twisted road Kaitlin Group has navigated since first arriving with its development plan in the fall of 2006. Originally the plan envisioned mostly single detached homes built around a fairly autonomous golf course community on the northern edge of the village.

Immediately, concerns arose over the form of housing, commercial stores in the development and the lack of integration with the existing village.

But there were other problems. Along the way the County’s Planning Commissioner Brian McComb left to pursue another job in Hastings County, taking a planner with him. For months the department drifted listlessly and with it the Kaitlin project.

Eventually the County hired Gerry Murphy to replace McComb and subsequently new staff were hired to fill out the ranks. But by then nearly a year had passed and the file hadn’t moved. Before tumult engulfed the planning department, Kaitlin had made significant alterations to its plans. There would be a mix of housing—apartments, townhouses, semis and detached homes. The commercial node was gone, encouraging buyers to support existing Wellington shops. Prices would range from the affordable to the midrange.

As the new planning chief, still unfamiliar to the community Gerry Murphy was understandably nervous about providing his endorsement to the project. Despite the fact the project was within the urban area prescribed by the secondary plan for the village, Murphy worried that the secondary plan was out of date and that the proposed project was outside the bounds of the Provincial Policy Statement which largely governs municipal land use planning.

Murphy asked for, and received, a six-month reprieve to allow time for an update to the village’s secondary plan. This would, in Murphy’s estimation, allow the community to weigh in on the project and the future development of the village. IBI, a consultancy, conducted well-attended community workshops and stakeholder meetings over the winter. This past spring, IBI produced a “preferred development strategy” gleaned from the feedback and ideas it gathered over the previous months.

They determined that future development should be encouraged below the Millennium Trail which largely defines the northern limit of development in the village. However, IBI determined that growth would also be compatible north of the trail if it met 10 principles of development. These principles required, among other things, new development to be highly integrated into the existing village via connecting green spaces, walking trails and streets.

The document also emphasized the requirement that any new development and architecture must respect the heritage and traditions of the existing village.

Over the summer the developer worked with the County’s planning staff to redesign the project to meet the guidelines spelled out in the preferred development strategy.

By the middle of the August, the two sides had reached a middle ground each could live with. Kaitlin arrived at the August 11 meeting of the committee of the whole with the endorsement of the County’s Planning, Public Works and Economic Development Departments.

But the committee wasn’t convinced. Some members wanted Public Works and Economic Development staff to explain to them, in person, how this project would affect infrastructure and existing golf businesses in the area.

That this information had been available, unquestioned, for several months didn’t diminish some councillors’ newfound curiosity at the doorstep to a decision.

Four councillors—Sandy Latchford, Brian Marisett, Richard Parks and John Thompson—had never been supportive of the project. No modifications would change their minds. The vote lost at committee, turning primarily on the lingering unanswered questions of Peggy Burris, Diane O’Brien and Lori Slik.

THE VILLAGE REACTS

The decision shocked many in the village and beyond. Most believed that the promise of jobs, a larger tax base and economic benefits resulting from growth would hardly be denied.

With the news of the committee’s no vote, residents mobilized—gathering opinions on surveys, calling councillors and working to overturn the decision at council. Their efforts were successful.

COUNCIL REVERSES COURSE

“I’ve done my homework,” announced Councillors Burris, O’Brien and Slik.

Each said they had, in the intervening days, received satisfactory answers to their questions. They were now prepared to support the project.

Councillor and mayoral candidate Monica Alyea continued to worry that the development was inappropriate for the village but when the vote was called she was also in support.

Fellow mayoral candidate Sandy Latchford tried to poke holes in the developer’s plans while taking backhand swipes at Planning staff.

“Are these guaranteed jobs?” demanded Latchford of Kaitlin principal Kelvin Whalen. Before allowing Whalen to answer she flung the question at Planning Chief Gerry Murphy: “Is there any way you can guarantee these jobs will be local?”

Murphy explained that he had no mechanism to force an employer to hire only in the County.

Whalen then took the floor to make it clear it is his firm’s practice and preference to hire workers, trades and suppliers in the local market.

“It makes the most sense,” explained Whalen, “both practically and economically, if these skills and capabilities are available locally.”

His answer complete, Whalen began making his way back to his seat.

“Get back here,” snapped Latchford. “I’m not done with you.”

Latchford went on to press her concern over traffic congestion in and around the village. She reminded council of the concerns of a couple who live on Gilead Road who, in response to a question posed by Latchford, had said, yes, they were concerned about the impact that a new development in Wellington might have on their road.

In a week, the hypothetical question had become a construction project. Latchford warned her fellow councillors that the future upgrade to Gilead Road would be funded by the general ratepayer—not the developer.

“I won’t support it,” snapped Latchford. “It’s very poor planning. Let’s stop it now.”

Wellington Councillor Peter Mertens, growing weary of the drive-by decision-making offered by some on council, brought the debate back to earth.

“I live in Wellington,” said Mertens. “I walk to the post office every day. The people of Wellington are overwhelmingly in support of this project.

“We look to the development of Wellington on the Lake. There has been no traffic congestion or gridlock. That community has grown and become an important part of this community. People see this development in the same way.” Mertens left it to Picton Councillor Bev Campbell to spell out the achievements gained in the past two years through nearly two years of work by the Planning Committee and Kaitlin.

“I want to commend Planning and Public Works staff and Kaitlin for working together to develop a project that is quite acceptable,” said Campbell. “People had a lot to say during the secondary plan review. Most were in favour of the plan. At the end of the day we have arrived at a project that I believe is quite suitable for the village.”

She emphasized the project’s mix of housing and range of prices.

“This isn’t the whole answer,” said Campbell. “But it is part of the answer. We need this stock of housing.”

Councillor Kevin Gale was surprised the developer was still standing before County council after four years of new and random hurdles.

“We need the jobs, the students to attend our schools and affordable housing,” said Gale. “My hat is off to you for still being here and enduring all these roadblocks.”

Julie Haight raises little horses on her farm overlooking Pleasant Bay near Hillier. All summer long, visitors to the County pull over their minivans at the side of the road to marvel at the sight of the miniature horses munching on grass in the pasture beside her Loyalist Parkway home.

“It would be a great money maker if we could figure out how to make money from it,” quips Julie. Raising the animals offers a useful diversion. She needs diversions in her life. At just 34 years of age, Julie has experienced more highs and lows than most of her peers do in a lifetime.

Readers may be familiar with Julie’s story. In 2005 the Times described the special bond between Julie and her sister Angie. Years earlier, Angie had given one of her kidneys to Julie to free her from the life-draining routine of dialysis.

But two years ago the kidney failed. It had served Julie well for nine and a half years but, within a month of initial warning signs, the kidney had stopped working altogether. Julie was back on dialysis. Three days a week. Four hours a day. A machine draining her blood, cleaning it and returning it back to her. It was exhausting. She would come home and go right to sleep. She couldn’t work. Her job was dialysis. Julie needed another kidney.

A HERO RAISES HIS HAND

Linda, Julie’s mom, works for Drew MacCandlish at Wight’s Greenhouses and Flower Shop in Wellington. When Linda explained Julie’s condition, both Drew and his partner Peter Hovestadt raised their hands, volunteering to be tested. Linda thanked them both but said she would be tested first. But Linda was ruled out as a donor after tests revealed hypertension.

Peter had met Julie on a few occasions but he really didn’t know her. Yet his hand was raised offering to donate his kidney.

“It became obvious very soon that I was the best candidate,” said Peter. “So we moved quickly to the next steps.” But why? After all this was surgery, and not without risk. “When I learned about Julie, I thought: I’m healthy. There was absolutely no reason for me not to do it now. Why wait until I am dead?”

That was just the beginning of the journey. What followed was nearly a year and half of testing, poking and prodding— both physically and psychologically. It shouldn’t have taken so long. Kingston General Hospital was in turmoil, unsure whether it was in the transplant business or not.

Peter works during three seasons as the landscape gardener at Waring House Inn. He had hoped to line up the surgery to take place last winter to take advantage of the time off. But delays at KGH prevented his referral to Toronto General, where the surgery would take place, until December—and more tests were needed. In March, Peter and Julie were nearly ready to go, but a last-minute test revealed antibodies in Julie’s bloodstream.

She had to undergo three months of treatment before the transplant could occur, if at all.

Peter used the intervening months to become healthier. “I was a bit overweight. I began walking and jogging. Eating better. I lost 25 pounds and two inches on my waistline.”

As the days counted down to the Aug. 11 surgery date— those around them became slightly anxious. But Julie and Peter were calm.

“I guess we had a longer time to adjust,” said Peter.

SURGERY

For Peter, the procedure to remove the organ was done laparoscopically; that is, through five small incisions in his abdomen. He was in and out of surgery in a little over three hours.

For Julie the surgery was much more intensive and invasive. But the results were positive. Both the donated kidney and Peter’s remaining kidney were working fine.

Peter was back on his feet within a day and released from the hospital three days after surgery. Julie would stay on for a few more days.

Now both are home. Peter says he feels no lingering effects. If not for a doctor-imposed restriction on lifting for three weeks, Peter says he would be back to work.

Julie has a longer recuperation period ahead. She must travel to Toronto for blood work three times a week. In time Julie will be able to alternate between the lab in Picton and Toronto. Later still, she hopes to scale back to weekly and perhaps monthly blood tests.

Interestingly, despite the dreariness and hardship of dialysis, Julie finds she misses the nurses and staff at the dialysis unit at the hospital in Picton.

“I didn’t want to leave them,” said Julie. “They became like a second family. They are that close.”

She is grateful for her freedom. She is getting better every day.

Linda wipes away a tear as she describes the gift Peter has given her family.

“Just goes to show you—there’s a lot of good people out there,” said Linda.

Peter downplays any sense of heroism.

“I couldn’t say no,” said Peter. “I’m a parent myself. I would like to believe if my daughter needed this kind of help someone would step forward and do the same thing.”

Instead, Peter is using the discussion to urge others to consider the need.

“Just think about it. Not everyone should do it. It is a major decision. But consider it. The need is huge. The waiting list for a living kidney is 12 years. Many won’t survive the wait.”

For Julie, thanks to Peter, the wait is over.

The Wellington Dukes continue to roll through the preseason, racking up three more impressive wins on the weekend. The team continued their dominance of their cross-bay rivals Trenton—downing the Golden Hawks by identical 5-1 scores on Friday under the DukeDome and on Saturday on the road.

It was the Dukes fans’ first glimpse of Malcolm Subban, younger brother to P.K.. He didn’t disappoint. Subban kicked away all shots he faced on Friday. The only puck to pass him was a deflection on Saturday. The weekend also saw the return of Jordan Ruby to the Wellington net. Ruby was perfect in the two half-games in which he appeared on the weekend.

All Dukes netminders were protected well by a strong defence corps and energetic checking of all four forward lines.

On Sunday the Dukes racked up eight unanswered goals before letting up the pressure, enabling Carleton Place to come back and pot a couple of goals. The Dukes would get one more, rounding out the 9-2 thumping of the Carleton Place club. Notably, nine different Dukes players found the net in Sunday’s game.

But now comes the hard part. This week and next, the Dukes will need to pare down to about two dozen players. It can be the toughest part of the season for the general manager and the team: deciding who should stay and who should go. And why.

The problem is particularly acute on the Dukes’ attack where there is a bounty of talent from which to choose.

“I really believe we have 18 forwards who can play in this league,” said Dukes General Manager and Head Coach Marty Abrams. “It will come down to all kinds of factors. Who’s local and who’s a billet? Who will accept which role? Age factors. That will be the challenge in the next two or three days. Plus we have five guys up front who are at OHL camps.”

In total, the Dukes have at least nine players testing the waters with Major Junior ‘A’ teams this week or next. Some won’t return. But how many and who just compounds the decision-making complexity.

Despite the uncertainty, Abrams must whittle his squad down to a manageable size before the team travels to Vermont for the annual Woodchuck Classic tournament beginning on Sept. 9.

As soon as the team returns it will be thrust into the regular season, beginning with a tilt in Kingston on Sept. 16—the first time these teams will have met since the Dukes beat out Kingston in four straight games to win the East Division championship in 2008.

TAKING SHAPE

In net the Dukes are solid. Jordan Ruby is back and playing well in pre-season action.

Malcolm Subban has also played well, but his fate is controlled by the Belleville Bulls and the choices they make this week and next. Fortunately for the Dukes, Ryan MacDonald has also been strong in the Dukes net in pre-season action.

“We have three guys who’ve shown they can stop the puck in this league,” said Abrams. “Number one is Jordan Ruby. Malcolm’s future depends what the Bulls decide to do. And Ryan has shown he is ready to play at this level.”

DEFENCE, HOWEVER, IS A WORRY

Cole Murduff is fighting for a spot on the Peterborough Pete’s club this week. Meanwhile, Curtis Leonard and Matt LeCavalier will skate with the Bulls in tryouts this week.

Bulls prospect Dillon Walker was injured in his second game and is sidelined. So too is another Bulls pick, Mike Mountford. Suddenly, one of the Dukes’ areas of strength has, perhaps, some very big skates to fill.

Up front the Dukes have a different problem. There is a lot of talent and scoring punch fighting for just a dozen or more spots. There will be no easy answers to this dilemma.

IDENTITY

By now the makeup and character of the 2010/11 Dukes team is beginning to take shape.

Those who make this squad will need to buy into this identity.

“I think the way this team will be successful will be to approach each game with a very strong four-line approach,” said Abrams, “with lots of energy, lots of forecheck and lots of skating.

“I think we have good team speed, but we also have good team size. We need to utilize both to our advantage. I think this is a little bit different than we had last year—primary scoring.

“There will be little difference between the four linesand virtually no difference between second and fourth. It will be a real balanced attack—the only question will be are we good enough.”

NEXT UP: COBOURG

The Cobourg Cougars and Wellington Dukes shared identical 4-0 records as of Monday.

“They’ve been real good in pre-season. They’ve got a real good goaltender (Mathieu Cadieux) back from Division I (NCAA) school. They’ve solidified their goaltending which was a problem for them last year. I think it is going to be a very, very entertaining game on Friday night.”

It seems clear that as local government got further away, the electorate in Prince Edward County became disaffected and disconnected. While they may have had a chance to influence change in the village, who was going to listen at Shire Hall?

The disappointing result of low voter participation is that we must endure the same cast of characters running in election after election—many of whom are well past their best-before date. This might be satisfactory if things were going well at Shire Hall. But they’re not. In fact, things have gone very badly for the ratepayers in Prince Edward County since amalgamation.

The tax levy is up 132 per cent—more than double since amalgamation. User fees are climbing at a similarly staggering rate. Our municipal debt has risen from $2.2 million in 2002 to over $45 million projected for the end of this year; much of this debt is to be shouldered by the residents in Picton and Wellington who receive water and sewer services.

Meanwhile, reserves have dwindled from $11 million two years ago to just $6 million. The past decade has been a disaster at Shire Hall.

The average person sees their tax bill escalating but they don’t see a corresponding improvement in the services they receive. This is a corrosive disconnect that breeds bitterness and frustration. Many have turned their backs on Shire Hall in disgust. But in doing so they have only ensured that nothing changes.

This is because when only 40 per cent show up on election day—the incumbent candidate wins. When voter turnout is so low, the incumbent needs only face recognition plus their core supporters and the race is over.

A couple elections go by and potential challengers learn they can’t beat a candidate that attends every tea and social in their ward—so they stop trying. Issues don’t matter. Track records don’t matter. Accountability doesn’t matter. Visibility is the only thing that matters. Parades, it turns out, matter.

So here we are. It is just days before nomination papers must be filed in order to run in the Oct. 25 election and, as it sits now, there won’t be an election for councillor in Hillier, Hallowell, South Marysburgh and Bloomfield. The four incumbents and one new candidate will be acclaimed if no contender steps forward.

As many as eight of the 16 seats around the council table could be filled by incumbents in December—just enough to stop anything that doesn’t meet their collective approval. If folks don’t show up at the poll—nothing changes. We have only ourselves to blame.

In this election, for the first time ever, County residents will have the option to vote online. County Clerk Victoria Leskie expects the added convenience of this additional method of voting will encourage a broader swath of the electorate to cast their ballot this year—particularly those who reside in the County part-time.

It is a two-step registration process to ensure the integrity of the vote. The first step is a registration card you will receive in the mail this month. This card will contain your Election Identification Number (EID).

Beginning on Oct. 1 you can go online to register using your EID. Once registered, you will receive a PIN (personal identification number) either by mail or email. Then you’re ready to vote.

You can vote online beginning on Oct. 2 and closing at midnight on Oct. 20—five days before Election Day.

Will it work? It is hard to know for sure. Certainly in wards without a contest it won’t make a difference. It is, however, certainly worth the effort.

The voters of Prince Edward County must return to the polls. We can never hope for meaningful change if we simply roll over and pretend our vote doesn’t count or that local government doesn’t matter.

Shire Hall consumes a large and growing share of your income each year. At least once every four years, make sure they hear from you.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca

Andrea Heuving (centre) is the first winner of the Willi Fida Culinary Bursary, established to honour the pioneering County chef who passed away three years ago. The award was presented by Fida’s children, Alex and Melanie, last week at Angeline’s—the restaurant he founded—at a dinner to celebrate the chef and his contribution to the County.

The Wellington Dukes were greeted with a warm August reception as the faithful mostly filled the stands of the DukeDome on Sunday night. The team didn’t disappoint. The team of mostly hopefuls making the case for one of the few remaining slots on the squad simply overpowered cross-bay rivals the Trenton Golden Hawks in the second of two wins on the weekend.

Dukes netminding prospects Ryan MacDonald and Hayden McInroy kicked away all shots, save for one late goal on Friday that squeaked in just 13 seconds before the buzzer sounded to end the game.

Meanwhile the Dukes tallied eight times in the homeand- home games and never relinquished control of the game.

“I’m extremely happy with both games,” said Coach and General Manager Marty Abrams. “When you are just seconds away from back-to-back shutouts in this league, you are doing something right.”

But there is much more going on in pre-season than the outcome of the game. Choices have to be made and none are easy. These are decisions made harder by conflicting goals.

“From a team standpoint we have to pick the right players—both for the short and long term,” explained Abrams. “We also want to come out of camp healthy, and beginning to develop a team identity— defining the character of this Dukes team.”

For the players their job is to make the coach’s job as difficult as it can be. It is their moment to show that they are an essential part of the puzzle.

“They are making an argument,” said Abrams. “They are trying to make it very difficult for the coaches to go for the status quo. Others are trying to make a case for themselves—perhaps not today but perhaps later in the season and next year.”

While the perception is that the Dukes enjoy a new season with many familiar faces—and therefore fewer skates to fill—the truth is that, should a couple of prospects earn a spot on OHL rosters at the beginning of September, the Dukes may have as many as 12 positions to fill.

STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT

Darcy Greenaway made an immediate impression on Dukes fans on Sunday night, setting up a pair of Zach Allan goals and adding a pair of his own.

“He’s a young player who has played out of the junior hockey spotlight the last few years,” said Abrams. “He has made a ton of progress in seven days. We know there are going to be some up-anddown nights with him during the season but we are prepared to ride these out.

“We need to develop goal scorers right here in Wellington—Darcy is a guy who will score goals for us down the road. He has scored goals wherever he has gone.

“Once he settles in and gets set up in a billet house he’ll continue to get better and better.”

At Lake Forest Academy in Illinois last year, Greenway led his team with 27 points (19 goals) in 13 games.

“We know we are going to have some good nights and some bad nights with a guy like Darcy. He’s got a lot of talent. It will take some time to develop fully.”

NEW BEGINNING

For the past three Novembers Abrams has travelled to rinks to head Team Canada East in the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge—a tournament of some of the best junioraged players in the world.

In two of these tournaments he got to know and watch a young player from Longueuil, Quebec. Simon Bessette has gained a national profile as a responsible defensiveminded forward. This summer Abrams was able to attract him to Wellington with the promise of a different role.

“We hope to loosen the strings a little bit and let his offensive skills shine,” said Abrams. “Simon really impressed me during the World Junior ‘A’ Challenge with his character, personality and the way he conducted himself in the tournaments He is going to be a great addition both on and off the ice.”

HOCKEY ROYALTY

Also joining the club this week is goaltending phenom Malcolm Subban, younger brother to the Montreal Canadiens’ P.K. Subban.

“Malcolm is likely to play on Friday in Wellington,” said Abrams. “Then he is off to the Bulls camp and we have to wait and see what their plans are for him.

“In any event we are in good shape in goal. McDonald and McInroy have played well. Jordan (Ruby) is our guy. We need two—we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out.”

PRE-SEASON CROWD

The parking lot was full and the benches mostly occupied in the cold rink on the summer evening—a welcome portent of an important season.

“Hopefully this is sign of what is to come in the new rink,” said Abrams. “In the meantime I expect people to come back and watch the final games in this historic building.

“Having our rivals from Trenton back in the loop is going to help as well—there were likely 100 people from Trenton in the stands on Sunday.”

DUKEDOME FRIDAY

The Dukes continue their exhibition series with the Trenton Golden Hawks in the DukeDome in Wellington on Friday night.

It is now less than two months before the County goes to the polls to elect a new mayor and council. Slowly but surely, the beginnings of a campaign are starting to emerge.

At risk of being lost in the discussion is the fact that we will all be asked a question on the ballot this year: Are you in favour of council commencing a public consultation process to review the size of council for the County of Prince Edward?

The question emerged from a twoyear process to try and arrive at a new model for council. With 16 representatives, Prince Edward County boasts one of the largest council tables outside of the big cities. It was a formula forged during the murky debates around amalgamation. Some feel that the time has come to streamline council—reduce its members to under 10 and, in this way, manage County business more effectively and efficiently.

Others recall that prior to amalgamation residents had 57 municipal politicians they could call upon with their problem. They aren’t convinced that fewer councillors managing larger files makes sense. Then there are others who believe there are more pressing, and less divisive projects council should be pursuing.

Many flavours of these arguments have been offered over the past few years as first a council committee, then council and next the Ontario Muncipal Board chewed over the details. No matter how hard it tried, council was hopelessly deadlocked. Two citizens, Lyle McBurney and Jim McPherson, tried to force council to make a decision but the OMB rejected their appeal.

In the end, council opted to put the question to the people. While the issue has been a minor tempest in Shire Hall at times over these past two years—it has rarely animated the citizenry. And so it seems with the ballot question. Few are likely even aware that the question is looming on the Oct. 25 ballot. Others may be assuming the result won’t be binding. They could be right. Fifty per cent must vote in favour and at least 50 per cent of the eligible voters must vote on Oct. 25 for the result to be binding.

The hurdle is high but not insurmountable.

In the last municipal election just under 40 per cent of eligible voters did so. The average voter turnout for municipalities the size of Prince Edward County was just over 42 per cent. That said, there weren’t many mobilizing issues in the last election—there was no real race for mayor and few reasons to get excited about the outcome.

This election could be different. The race for mayor is wide open, featuring candidates with sharply different visions of government and the County. Issues of heritage, industrial wind factories, and management are at the fore.

These issues could drive interest higher and push the electorate to make their choice. Also this year, for the first time, County voters can vote online— giving seasonal and weekend residents the opportunity to vote from their weekday residence.

Even if these factors are unable to push turnout over 50 per cent, it will be very difficult for the next council to ignore a clear answer from the voters.

Ten communities included questions on the ballot in 2006. Fittingly four of these questions dealt with whether or not the municipality should drop its ward system in favour of an at-large (all voters elect all councillors, as the mayor is elected)—a theme that will resonate with those who have invested their time and energy into the debate since 2008.

Friends, family and colleagues gather onstage for the rousing finale to a concert celebrating Zeke Mazurek at the Regent Theatre on Monday. The show featured performances by Sylvia Tyson (above, centre) Cindy Church (fourth from right with guitar) and Zeke himself (third from left) along with a stellar cast of musicians from the County and away.

This view isn’t unanimous. Some are, rightfully, worried about disturbing the balance that makes this village such a wonderful place to live. They are right to be cautious; we have much to protect. But neither can we ignore, nor shrink away in fear from, the community’s need to grow—to offer affordably priced homes for our elders and young families and to create perhaps two decades of well-paying construction and related jobs.

An assured, self-confident community can do both—it takes vigilance and willingness to insist that those who join us honour the traditions, history and sanctity of the place.

Quiet as church mice

Earlier this summer council was presented with a gift—an opportunity to send a pointed message to the province that this municipality and others are growing weary of being treated like irresponsible children. It was a simple but elegant manoeuvre that might not have accomplished much, but would have sent a clear signal that all is not well between the municipalities and the McGuinty government. But when presented with the opportunity, our council chose to stay quiet as a church mouse—unwilling to upset their masters.

At the end of July in Cherry Valley, council considered supporting a motion by Arran-Elderslie that called for the province to certify that industrial wind factories are safe before permitting these machines to be erected in its community.

It was a clever tactic. Lower governments complain that senior governments habitually pass down jurisdiction and costs they no longer want on their books. Since amalgamation it has become the predictable bleat from some on council that local budget woes are entirely the fault of a province pushing the cost of its government onto the backs of property taxpayers. To an extent they are correct—though the province is usually a bit more nuanced than municipal burghers would let on. Typically the pressure takes the form of stricter guidelines in treating water, heavier regulation in roads infrastructure, and tougher rules around chemicals and potential pollutants.

Too often new standards arrive at the municipality’s door to be enforced, monitored and measured, yet no additional funding arrives with it. It’s a story that is told over and over again, yet here was a chance to turn the tables on the province—and we stayed quiet.

The Arran-Elderslie motion neatly used the province’s own trick. Preserving the health and welfare of its citizens is an entirely reasonable precondition of any development. It is the driver behind virtually all regulations the province hands down to municipalities. The council of Arran-Elderslie simply demanded the province provide the same safeguards and indemnification the province would be seeking from the municipality if the shoe were on the other foot.

As a political stunt it was brilliant—using the province’s own tactics to slow down the McGuinty government’s unthinking, brutish and ultimately misguided attempt to plant industrial wind factories across rural Ontario.

In reality Arran-Elderslie’s move likely won’t slow the lumbering goliath as it wreaks havoc across our province— but it certainly had to give McGuinty pause, and perhaps others hope.

Our council had the opportunity to support the Arran- Elderslie motion as proposed by Councillor Peter Mertens. It had the opportunity to stand up to the bullies who foisted the cynical Green Energy Act upon us—a law that with a single stroke of a pen snatched responsibility for the control and management of industrial wind factories away from the municipalities where they are erected. Now council can only stand by and watch as, one by one, lakeshore communities are transformed into Wolfe Island.

Only Peggy Burris and Mayor Leo Finnegan supported Mertens’s; motion, 10 others voted to stay quiet, as not to upset the province. Such was our timid and frightened response.

So when one of the ten councillors comes to your door in the coming weeks seeking re-election—boasting about how they are working on your behalf, to protect our community— don’t believe them. When it came time to act they stood by in silence.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca

“This community has given us their child,” said Michael Mulvihill, the new owner of the Wellington Dukes. “We have a big responsibility. We can’t fail. We have to make this work.”

With these words Mulvihill signaled to this community that he understands the deep tradition and history this team enjoys in Wellington and the County. He understands his every move will be scrutinized and examined by this community.

“I was driving home from a meeting in a little village of Cobden a couple of weeks ago and I was overcome with a feeling of emotion,” said Mulvihill. “I realized the burden I had accepted. I literally had to pull over and say a little prayer.

“My biggest concern was that the community would see me as a carpet bagger from out of town. That is why in all our discussions we talked about this as a partnership. We need each other to go forward and get to the next level. None of us can do this on our own.”

The Wellington Dukes are a storied franchise and an iconic name recognized in junior hockey circles across the country. They carry a national profile far bigger than the village itself.

Since Garry Lavender, Hugh Parliament and Jim Dunlop decided to bring the Belleville Bobcats to the County and rechristened them the Wellington Dukes in 1989, the team has entertained and competed delivering an unmatched track record of success. Both its successes and challenges intertwined with the community.

The cost to run the team the first year was about $35,000. Last year the team spent about five times that amount. In a league-driven initiative to reduce the number of teams from 36 to 31, the remaining teams are compelled to compensate the departing team owners.

For the Dukes this means a one-time bill of between $35,000 and $50,000. Costs seem likely to continue to escalate.

The Dukes executive had been operating increasingly on the edge in recent years and although the team could look forward to a new arena this season, and perhaps an increase in gate revenues, there was no certainty the team’s financial prospects would not continue to deteriorate.

So the decision was made by the Dukes executive to reach out to Mulvihill, a semi-retired mortgage broker and avowed hockey fan from Pembroke.

Mulvihill contacted Dukes General Manager and Coach Marty Abrams a few years ago about acquiring an interest in the team. The timing was wrong. But three weeks ago the team executive (all volunteers), facing a troubling financial picture, decided the time was right to add a partner to the team.

Several team directors remained skeptical; that is, until they met with Mulvihill and got to know him.

“He is a hockey guy through and through,” said Parliament. “He wants to win and he wants to do it right. He impressed everyone on the board that he is deeply spiritual, committed and knowledgeable guy. He made a commitment to the board and the executive that the Wellington Dukes will remain the Wellington Dukes.”

In the end the Dukes executive voted unanimously in favour of the transaction with Mulvihill.

“I can say that the prospects for the Dukes in Wellington are brighter than they have ever been,” said Parliament. “I could not have said that a few weeks ago.” For Mulvihill, he has made it a condition of the deal that the team executive remains with the organization and members continue their roles with the team.

“Every person with a position on the executive has given me their commitment they will continue in it,” said Mulvihill. “They have told me they will continue to give the same effort and same enthusiasm. There are some things on the financial side where they need some support— that is where I come in. This is a partnership.”

“I can help Marty get the hockey team to where it needs to be, but without the support of the executive, the volunteers, fans and community, we won’t achieve our goals.”

Mulvihill knows that he is joining an organization with a profound reputation in hockey circles and an equally profound relationship with its community. He has made a commitment to keep the team in Wellington and to provide the financial strength to pursue opportunities to improve the team.

He won’t pay for players as other teams do, but he intends to give the team the financial flexibility to sign and billet players when they become available.

“For five years we are going to make a go of this,” said Mulvihill. “The team will never leave. I’ve made this commitment. For at least five years nothing should change.”

Who is Michael Mulvihill?

Michael Mulvihill grew up steeped in hockey tradition. His grandfather played with the Pembroke Lumber Kings after gaining a degree from the University of Toronto Dental School. He raised his family there. One son played briefly with the Detroit Red Wings; another, Michael’s father, was a goaltender.

As a 15 year old Michael was sent to the storied Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. The school and its founder, Father Athol Murray, espouse the principle that they are teaching the whole athlete—both on and off the ice.

Some of the school’s illustrious alummi include NHL stars Rod Brind’amour, Wendell Clark and Vincent Lecavalier. The village of Wilcox has just 256 souls, 30 kilometres south of Regina. Like Wellington, the village is passionate about hockey and its team the Hounds.

When he returned to Pembroke at 35 years of age he immediately volunteered for the team: in the ticket booth; selling sponsorships; and adding colour commentary on the local radio broadcasts of the game.

Meanwhile he established a mortgage brokerage business in the community and was fortunate to see it thrive. Two years ago he began to step away from the day-to-day business. He is looking forward to a new challenge.

“I believe this is the next chapter in my life’s journey,” said Mulvihill. “I have some goals I want to accomplish. This is something I’ve always wanted to do.”

Mulvihill has agreed to backstop losses the team may incur over the next five years and provide a reserve to enable the team to take advantage of its opportunities as they arise.

“The way hockey is changing, not a lot of small market teams are going to survive,” observed Mulvihill. “The challenges facing this club have been imposed by a Toronto bureaucracy that doesn’t understand small towns.

“The Wellington Dukes, due to their history and tradition of this team, passion of Marty (Abrams), the executive and the commitment of the community, as well as a new rink, may be able to overcome the odds. But it can’t become a perennial .500 hockey club.”

Mulvihill wants to be part of the winning tradition here. He wants to bring the Dudley Hewitt Cup to Wellington—something the team could not do on its own. He wants to win championships.

“When we have the chance to go, we need to be prepared to be able to go—because the window may not come along for three or four or five years.”

Mulvihill says the seven years he spent at Notre Dame College in Saskatchewan left a big impression on him. To be a Notre Dame man means that you follow a code.

“As Father Athol Murray said, ‘To him who does what in him lies, God will not deny his grace.’ That is what I see here in Wellington.

“I know that in Wellington as in Notre Dame if you take a night off you’ve disgraced your team. Everybody knows what you are doing.”

Mulvihill says he doesn’t want to meddle but hopes to attend plenty of Dukes games. He is considering parttime residence in the community.

“Through this first part I just want to be here when they need me,” said Mulvihill. “There is nothing broken here. The best players want to come here. There are just some things that have to be here to make it happen.”

Training Camp

The pace was fast and the enthusiasm of new season getting under way filled the DukeDome on the weekend as the Dukes opened training camp.

“We are still trying to fill some holes on defence,” said Abrams. “That may take more time than we thought. Returning players Leonard, Mcintosh, Murduff look fine— but we are still missing some pieces on the back end. Hopefully over the next weeks or months we can add some pieces there.”

One pickup from the defunct Bowmanville Eagles did, however, stand out as a viable rearguard candidate. “Brandon Parletta, who played last year in Bowmanville and emerged as a free agent to our camp, really played well. He may be a piece right in front of us. I thought he had a great camp.”

DUKESNOTES: BRIAN BURNETT

The Dukes have acquired Brian Bunnett from the Cobourg Cougars.

“He’s a big kid, 17 years old—played a year in Bowmanville with ties to the area—it all made sense. Plus he had a great camp, he really played outstanding.”