Northeast town in water crisis

by Neil Zacharjewicz

NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN and the ISLANDS - Residents of Little Current have been instructed not to water their lawns and gardens until further notice, in an attempt to alleviate a potential crisis.

The decision was made at an emergency meeting of council held on Monday, August 9th at the NEMI Recreation Centre. Mayor Joe Chapman explained that, on Saturday, August 7th, he received a phone call from George Dobbs, who operates the water treatment plant for Little Current, who expressed concern that he was faced with a critical situation and needed some direction. Mr. Dobbs explained to the mayor that he needed to turn down the water pressure in the Little Current system in an effort to decrease demand, which peaked at 35 litres per second. According to the mayor, Mr. Dobbs explained that the town had no reserve left, and there was not enough pressure to adequately provide fire protection services.

"What are we going to do about it?" Mayor Chapman asked council. "How do we reduce the demand on the system until this crisis passes?"

Councillor Tony Ferro suggested the simplest solution was to prohibit the outdoor watering of lawns and gardens.

"If we pass that, who is going to enforce it?" asked Councillor Bill Koehler.

Rather than fine people, the town could look at shutting their water off for half and hour, Mayor Chapman said.

The situation was common sense, Councillor Ferro said, and indicated that he felt that if the town asked residents not to water their lawns and gardens until the situation could be resolved, 99 percent of them would do so.

Mayor Chapman said he could not foresee the situation lasting longer than a week.

"This is a short-term solution. I just want to address the short-term for today," he said. He added that council would consider the issue further at its next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, August 11th.

It was Councillor Gary Green who suggested council get the word out immediately. He indicated that passing a motion without ensuring the word was passed along to the residents would be self-defeating.

However, Councillor Bill Koehler indicated he was not in favour of the motion if it included gardens. He said that many people work too hard on their gardens.

Councillor Ferro, however, noted almost everyone in town had a garden.

"That takes a lot of water," he said.

The mayor said he was in favour of prohibiting all outdoor watering. He said the main problem for most people is their hose.

"Everyone is letting (their hose) run for 24 hours," he said.

A recorded vote was called for, and Councillors Ferro, Green, Sam Nardi, Jim Stringer, Jib Turner and Mayor Chapman voted in favour of the motion, while Councillor Koehler was the sole vote of dissent. Councillors Tom Batman and Marcel Gauthier were absent from the meeting.

Following the meeting, Mayor Chapman indicated that the Little Current water treatment plant "was not built large enough to meet the demands of the town during the summer months."

He said that on Saturday, the existing pressure was not enough to provide adequate fire protection services or to meet the demands of the Manitoulin Health Centre and the Manitoulin Centennial Manor. He noted that if a 90-unit hotel/conference centre were operating on the water system, the town would be faced with a total crisis.

by Neil Zacharjewicz

NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN and the ISLANDS - The Ontario Municipal Board has ruled that there is sufficient planning justification to allow for the construction of a hotel / conference centre at Low Island.

The decision, issued on August 6, 2004, stated that "the application represents good planning."

"Behind the polite, kind and even careful treatment of each other, an expected civility in this tourist town on the north shore of the world's largest freshwater island, lies very different and polarized opinions about this project," stated OMB member David J. Culham. "Despite one planner testifying that there is a lack of justified need for such a hotel project, most on both sides of the issue agree that such a hotel is necessary for the local economy. What they disagree on is whether it is this site that is appropriate."

The decision was rendered to address two decisions by council for the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands' (NEMI),  one in which council turned downed an  Official Plan Amendment and another in which council turned down a Zoning By-Law Amendment to allow for the construction of the hotel / conference centre as proposed by the Streetwise Development Corporation.

On the issue of the Official Plan Amendment, Mr. Culham indicated that all parties agreed the Official Plan of the Manitoulin Planning Area and the Secondary Plan for the Town of Little Current addressed the major role of the tourism industry within the town. Furthermore, he noted that he concurred with the opinion of Donald McCullough, the planner for the Streetwise Development Corporation, that Official Plan Amendment (OPA) 42, approved in 1982 and never amended or rescinded, is "the operative Official Plan policy."

"It locates the hotel centre function in this west, waterfront area some 700 metres from the Little Current downtown core. While precipitated by a previous hotel proposal in 1989, OPA 42 clearly envisioned a hotel activity node in this general waterfront location. It complements the downtown core but also provides needed hotel facilities for bus and ship tours to the benefit of tourism throughout Manitoulin Island," Mr. Culham said. "While Mr. (John) Kennedy (planner for the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands) de-emphasized the importance and present relevance of OPA 42, he admitted in cross-examination that the supporting documentation demonstrated that it occurred after careful consideration and that it conformed to the Official Plan and the Secondary Plan."

Mr. Culham indicated that OPA 42 was the operative policy framework that structured the capital works projects of road and utility construction, and this was confirmed by the testimony of Jim Bousquet and former mayors Ken Ferguson and Ed Laidley. Furthermore, he noted that the facility is vital for the continued business activity, as testified by hotel owners Bruce O'Hare and Jim Renton. Mr. Culham pointed out that Wilbert Oliver testified that Little Current needed such a facility so as to make curling bonspiels and hockey tournaments possible, and that Aundeck Omni Kaning Chief Patrick Madahbee had also testified he could not bring a First Nations conference to the area due to the lack of accommodations.

"There is a year round need to provide for such a facility," Mr. Culham stated.

Finally, Mr. Culham indicated that the proposed OPA 83, drafted by Mr. McCullough, adapts to many of the concerns of the local residents by limiting and specifying the use of the property, directing several buses per day to Water Street via the Little Current downtown core, ensuring the built form and massing of the new hotel conform to the area, requiring landscaping and buffering to minimize any potential visual and land-use impacts, and specifically facilitating any pedestrian movements.

On the issue of the Zoning By-Law Amendment, Mr. Culham noted that OPA 83 and the proposed amendment to the Zoning By-Law specifically limit the use to a hotel and accessory uses, which eliminates the general concerns about the "proliferation of uses" allowed in a general C2 zoning.

"As revealed by the testimony, the present site is vacant and has been for many years. Efforts and investments in utilities by builders have not brought a successful townhouse environment to this site. There remains to the east plenty of space to add to the existing eight townhouses. Two of the existing built townhouses remain unsold," he noted.

Mr. Culham pointed out that, according to the testimony of Bill Keatley, prior to OPA 42, the area in question "remained unkempt, undeveloped and without services," and was not an integrated portion of the residential neighbourhood.

"The Board finds, based upon much of the residential testimony, that the proposed hotel use mitigates negative impacts to the adjacent residential use. This relates to either the townhouse neighbourhood to the east or the established single-family neighbourhood to the south," he said.

Mr. Culham did note that Russell Cheeseman, legal counsel for Streetwise Development Corporation, had recommended the OMB withhold the outcome of its decision until he notified the board that a satisfactory Site Plan Agreement had been reached with the municipality, so that in the event that the parties involved could not reach an agreement, either party could request that the board schedule a hearing on the site plan.

"The Board agrees to withhold its Order pending a written confirmation from the applicant's solicitor that the applicant and the municipality reached a satisfactory Site Plan Agreement," he stated.

Mayor Joe Chapman expressed dismay at the decision.

"I am disappointed, but not surprised, at the outcome of the hearing. I was not impressed with the whole process. I think the OMB has outlived its usefulness and I now understand why the Ontario government is considering eliminating it. Their decision is a real slap in the face for the majority of residents in this community," Mayor Chapman said. "How are we supposed to add a 90 room hotel to a water system that cannot accommodate our present needs? This is the equivalent of adding 90 homes to our town. Do we have to shut down our hospital and old age home to accommodate Streetwise Developments? Does everyone have to stop watering their lawns for the next 20 years so Streetwise Developments can have a hotel? How many concessions do the people of this town have to make for Streetwise Developments?"

As of press time, neither Jim McBane, owner of the Streetwise Development Corporation, and Chief Madahbee, whose community is the major financial supporter of the project, could be reached for comment. Julia McCutcheon, who was a third party involved in the OMB hearing, declined to comment on the decision.

On January 7, 2004, council for the Town of NEMI voted five to four against approving an Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-Law Amendment to allow for the development of a Quality Inn near Low Island. In a recorded vote, Councillors Bill Koehler, Sam Nardi, Jim Stringer and Jib Turner and Mayor Chapman voted against allowing the Official Plan Amendment and the Zoning By-Law Amendment. Councillors Tom Batman, Tony Ferro, Marcel Gauthier, and Gary Green voted in favour of the amendments.

In February, Mr. McBane appealed council's decisions to the OMB, and a hearing was held on June 29th and 30th. Three parties presented their cases to the OMB during the course of the hearing, including the Streetwise Development Corporation, the Town of NEMI, and Julia McCutcheon.

by Michael Erskine

LITTLE CURRENT---Members of the boating community and the Manitoulin Ontario Provincial Police Detachment were joined by a helicopter unit in a frantic search for a 46 year-old Sudbury man who went missing after diving into the water from his sailboat around 2 pm on Sunday, August 8, near Bedford Island in the North Channel.

Two men were sailing near Bedford Island, about five miles west of Little Current, when the owner of the sailboat went into the water to demonstrate body surfing. Unable to hold onto the trailing rope, he disappeared under the waves and had not been located by press time on Monday.

Upon receiving the distress call the OPP immediately began conducting a search with assistance from the Search and Rescue Unit from the Rescue Coordination Centre out of Trenton, Ontario. The search continued until after dark, and resumed early Monday morning with the helicopter flying a search pattern while the OPP boat and divers swept a search grid.

Dispirited members of the boating community began drifting into the Anchor Bar and Grill after nightfall on Sunday, many visibly distraught that their day-long search had proven fruitless.

Two-and-a-half-foot waves and a setting sun complicated the community's search efforts, hampering visibility to the westward. Still, the effort put forward by literally dozens of vacationing boaters was deeply appreciated by the police.

"We had huge support," said Manitoulin OPP Detachment Commander Bruce McCullagh. "It was really nice to see."

The search grid followed by the boaters was set down by the search and rescue team, centering on the area where the man had been last reported seen.

Staff Sargeant McCullagh said he was confident the search area was well-defined, centering closely on where the man disappeared.

"The 'Bliss' was on-site very soon after the incident occurred," he said. "We are pretty sure we have a good fix on where he was last seen."

Confidence in the location was bolstered when a floatation cushion that had been thrown to the man after he was in the water was recovered near the scene.

Local businessman and fellow boater Rob Norris, of Little Current, brought the vessel into port, as the man who remained on board the vessel was an inexperienced sailor. Mr. Norris was ferried to the distressed vessel by another local boater.

The name of the missing man and his boat are being withheld until he is located and his family notified.

Although the area surrounding Manitoulin has been an international Mecca for boaters for many years, attracting large numbers of sailing and cruising boaters, it has been some time since a tragedy of this nature has occurred.

"I have been sailing up here for 18 years," said a boater who had spent most of the day aiding in the search effort. "This is the first time I have heard anything like this."

A number of the boaters admitted 'hoping against hope' while they were involved in the search. With the cool water out in the channel an unaided swimmer would be hard-put to make it to shore under ideal conditions, facing a stiff off-shore wind and metre-high waves optimism was difficult to maintain even for a man described as a "very strong swimmer."

Although winds were fairly strong in the channel, the amount of actual water current in the area was described by boaters on the scene as minimal.

OPP divers in the Little Current-based police boat were dragging south of Bedford Island in about 40 feet of water until the evening hours on Monday.

by Neil Zacharjewicz

MANITOULIN - Some 50 to 60 players are expected to turn out to audition for a spot on the second edition of the Manitoulin Wild when training camp opens this weekend.

According to General Manager Larry Leblanc, fans can anticipate some changes on the squad this year, both on the ice and behind the bench. Joining the staff this year is Marcel Rheault, a long-time AAA coach from Sudbury who will take on the role of co-coach with returning coach Stephane Soulliere.

"(Mr. Rheault) is really a systems guy. He has an understanding of the modern techniques, and he communicates really, really well," Mr. Leblanc said. "He is a great bench boss."

Mr. Leblanc said that while management respected what Mr. Soulliere accomplished in the franchise's first year, it was felt that having both men co-coaching would be a good deal.

"It helps to have that experience on the bench," he said.

Furthermore, he pointed out Mr. Soulliere and Mr. Rheault have been friends for a long-time, having worked together at the very first Rainbow Country Hockey School, where Mr. Rheault was the head instructor.

Mr. Rheault helps the Wild replace the loss of both assistant coaches Gerard Peltier and Mike Meeker. Both indicated to the franchise they would be unable to coach this season.

As for the on-ice changes, Mr. Leblanc noted several players may not back this season. Ken May will be participating in the Barrie Colts training camp for the OHL, and popular defenseman Robert Fogerty was in training camp for the Lewiston Maniacs, the first American team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Furthermore, former back-up goaltender Jay Punsky received a scholarship from the University of Arizona, and a deal is currently in the works that would see Kyle Mason dealt to the Cobourg Cougars.

"(Kyle) said he enjoyed his stay with us, and he really enjoyed the fans, but he wanted to be closer to home," Mr. Leblanc explained.

He noted that while the Wild will miss the contributions each of those players have made to the franchise, the purpose of the franchise in the first place was to help developing players take the next step in their hockey careers.

"If they make it, it's actually a tribute to us (as a franchise)," Mr. Leblanc said. "That is what we are here for."

While there will be some players on the move, Mr. Leblanc noted some key players will back in training camp auditioning for their old jobs back, including Brent Assinewai, Eldon Cheechoo, and the player people have been asking about the most, goaltender Matt George. But Mr. Leblanc said everyone will be competing for the available slots on the new roster.

"The guys who were here last year have to earn the job again. It's an effort - attitude thing. The guys know that," Mr. Leblanc said.

The situation will also likely be more competitive than last year, with an estimated 50 to 60 guys in camp. Many of the players bring with them Junior hockey experience from Saskatchewan, Long Lac, North Bay and Hearst. Mr. Leblanc noted the Wild have attracted an All-Conference goaltender from an Eastern Junior league in the United States to training camp, as well as the highest scorer from the same league.

For training camp, the Wild have two practices scheduled for Saturday, August 14th, another two for Sunday, August 15th, followed by one each on August 16-18th. Mr. Leblanc said the basic squad for the new season should be in place in time for the Wild's first exhibition game of 2004 against the Abitibi Eskimos. The game is scheduled to be held at the NEMI Recreation Centre on Friday, August 20th, beginning at 7:30 pm.

Season tickets for the Wild are also still available. Mr. Leblanc indicated over 100 season ticket packages have been sold for the upcoming season, and fans who wish retain the same seats they held last year need to purchase their tickets prior to the first regular season game. For season tickets, call Mr. Leblanc at 377-4673, or during weekday afternoons at 377-4342.