Deadly fish virus heading towards L. Huron waters

by Jim Moodie

GREAT LAKES-A deadly fish virus that has been detected in the Great Lakes could have dire consequences for the local aquaculture and sport-fishing industries if the bug continues to proliferate.

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) was confirmed in the northeastern United States in June, and researchers suspect that the virus may account for a recent massive die-off of fish in Lake Ontario. In early July, some 1,000 dead fish washed up on the shores of Lake Ontario in just one morning alone, according to a paper at Cornell University, whose researchers are studying VHSV.

Last week, a number of people involved in the local fish sector took in a video-conference presentation on the virus, delivered by Rich Moccia, a professor of aquatic and fishery science at the University of Guelph.

Paul Methner of the Blue Jay Creek fish hatchery, one of those present for the video conference, noted that the virus has been found as close to Lake Huron as Lake St. Clair, so scientists and those involved in the fish sector are bracing themselves for its possible emergence in local waters.

About 12 species have been affected so far, including yellow perch, northern pike, yellow walleye, round gobies, muskellunge, brown bullhead and rock bass.

Dan Glofcheskie of North Wind Fisheries, also present for Mr. Moccia's talk, said it is unclear yet how serious a threat the virus poses to cage-culture operations like his own. "While it does pose a threat, it's not in the upper Great Lakes yet," he said, adding, "most species it has affected to date are not cold water species; it hasn't impacted on any salmonids (a family which includes trout and salmon species) yet."

Still, the fish farmer has concerns, as "it would clearly impact our operations" if VHSV spread to salmon and trout in Lake Huron. "There are lots of threats to those of us involved in cage aquaculture, because we have very limited control over what's in the environment, and our fish are in contact with wild fish," he noted.

Such a development could also have serious ramifications for the Island's recreational fishery, as rainbow trout and chinook salmon are the preferred catches of those who test Lake Huron waters.

At the moment, however, Mr. Glofcheskie is not panicking. "It's apparently imminent, but I'm not going to worry about it until it's here. I'm confident I'm taking proper precautions, but there's no way to really control it," he said. "I guess it's prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

The aquaculture operator noted that "mortality is greatest when the water temperature is between 4 and 15 degrees Celsius," so he anticipates that it "would be a spring-time management issue," if it became an issue at all. At the moment, the water is a tepid 22 degrees Celsius, he noted.

A similar virus has had a devastating effect on fish populations (including trout) in Europe, noted Mr. Methner, but scientists are "fairly confident that this is a different strain of the virus. Right now they're culturing it to determine what species it will affect."

From the perspective of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the new risk means "we're certainly going to take precautions, as we always do, when we do wild lake collections," said Mr. Methner. "It may pose some limitations on where we collect eggs in the future."

Anglers should also do their part to ensure that they "don't transfer bait fish from one location to another or transfer fish without permits," stressed Mr. Methner, as limiting the spread of the disease is in everyone's interest.

Should the virus ever take hold in Lake Huron and spread to salmonid species, Mr. Methner said the toll could be immeasurable. "If that virus gets out and starts killing fish, it will make cormorants look like a drop on the head of a pin."

Municipal  police plan met with mixed views

by Lindsay Kelly

MANITOULIN-A plan recently hatched by the Northeast Town to look into the costs of shared municipal policing has been turned down by one municipality and is awaiting a verdict by another. Meanwhile, local OPP believe they are already providing the best service for the money the town is paying.

The idea to investigate the possibility of replacing OPP services in favour of a municipal police force was put forth by Northeast Town council at a July 18 council meeting, at which members of council expressed their frustration at the level of service currently provided by the OPP.

Their ire was sparked, in part, because of what they consider to be a slow response to recent incidents of vandalism at Low Island Park, and council has said their frustration is aimed at the OPP administration's practice of farming out officers around the province to areas requiring more service, which they believe leaves the local force wanting. A recent example is the standoff between First Nations protesters and land developers in Caledonia, where local officers are sent on a rotational basis.

At the recent council meeting, it was suggested that Assiginack may be interested in being included in a consortium of municipalities which would together fund a municipal police force. Assiginack clerk Alton Hobbs confirmed that the town received a call from the Northeast Town last week, but indicated that Assiginack was not interested in the concept at this time.

"Our council has never discussed alternatives to the OPP policing," he said. "I don't believe they're interested in other alternatives, because, frankly, we can't see a way for it to be done more cheaply while still receiving the same level of service."

He referred to Elliot Lake as a case in point. The town formerly employed the OPP's services, and switched to a municipal force a few years ago. Their costs have since skyrocketed, Mr. Hobbs noted.

He said Assiginack council doesn't see how, with a such a small population, a municipal police force can be maintained between the municipalities.

"It's a non-starter for us," he said. "We believe it's simply not doable."

Central Manitoulin Reeve Richard Stephens said that his municipality has not yet received a formal request for consideration from the Northeast Town, but indicated that the topic was on the agenda for a Tuesday evening meeting. Council would debate the issue at that time, he noted.

Alternative policing "has never been discussed for consideration" by the council, because Central Manitoulin "is generally satisfied with our level of police service," Reeve Stephens said.

Still, he agreed that it would be wise, for the benefit of the taxpayers, to look into possibilities if it meant savings and/or better service for the town.

However, the costs involved may prove to be prohibitive, rather than helpful to the municipality.

After the Northeast Town did some comparison shopping, figures show that policing costs could rise to nearly twice what they are paying now if they were to go the municipal police force route.

The town looked at similar-sized communities to determine the costs for municipal policing funded fully or in part by the municipalities. In Espanola, the total cost for policing in 2004 (2005 figures are not yet available) totalled $1,395,270, while Michipicoten paid $1,158,990 for its police services. In Elliot Lake, costs soared to $2,278,291.

In comparison, the Northeast Town's policing costs for 2006 amount to $641,328.

In defence of the Manitoulin OPP services,  Staff Sergeant and Detachment Commander Bruce McCullagh said that, while the Northeast Town is well within its right to look into alternative policing services, he believes the OPP is providing the best services possible.

"For the municipality to discuss alternative police services-that's their job," he said. "But from a personal perspective, for the money NEMI is paying, I still believe they're getting the best possible service."

Staff Sergeant McCullagh said if the town is dissatisfied with the services being provided, they also have the option of moving to a contract-type level of service with the OPP, which would allow them to redefine the level of service they want, and pay an amount based on a formula that reflects the services provided.

Currently, the services offered are provided on a "pay-as-you-go" basis, which sees the municipal portion of the police services split between the 10 Island municipalities who receive service from the OPP, explained Staff Sergeant McCullagh. The service is based on the number of calls for service in each area, so the more calls that are made in a municipality, the higher their portion is.

Staff Sergeant McCullagh said he also disagrees with the Northeast Town's account of the events that led to their frustration in the first place.

"Council is doing what they are supposed to do, although their facts regarding that one single incident are not the same facts that I have," he said.

Although Mayor Joe Chapman had said that it took a police officer two hours to respond to an incident at Low Island Park (during which a paper towel dispenser was set afire), Staff Sergeant McCullagh said an officer was on patrol in the town, but was a 20-minute drive away, and arrived 22 minutes after the call came in. Officers had also patrolled that area twice earlier in the day, and observed no suspicious behaviour, he added.

He also pointed out that, while officers treat all incidents seriously, "vandalism is a fairly small crime in comparison with more serious crimes and more serious situations on the Island."

The OPP, in his mind, remains "one of the best police services in the world," with officers meeting policing standards, receiving excellent training, and carrying with them years of experience, knowledge and expertise.

Powwow, Haweater and more pack Civic Holiday Weekend

MANITOULIN-The Island's busiest summer weekend approaches, so rest up and get ready to eat, drink, sing, dance, canoe, drum, feast, run, jump, slide, socialize and celebrate. Sleep can come later.

Little Current will once again play host to the annual Haweater Weekend extravaganza. This year's theme is 'Our Island in the Sun,' and events begin as early as Thursday, with pony rides all day and a Grand Ole Opry show at the Legion.

As the pace picks up on Friday and continues unabated through Sunday, look for such highlights as the classic car show (on Friday evening), cardboard boat races (Saturday at noon), an all-new canoe tripper race (on Saturday afternoon), and the return of MuchMusic for the ever-popular Hawfest on Saturday night. And of course, don't miss the Parade of Lights and weekend-capping fireworks display on Sunday evening.

In Wikwemikong, the oldest powwow in eastern Canada returns for its 46th year. Now called a Cultural Festival, this year's event features over $70,000 in prize money (it's a competitive powwow), countless food and craft booths, and a message of respect and inclusion.

The theme of the 2006 festival is "Naagdaawendaandaa Anishnaabe Maadzwin," or "Nurturing Our Ways of Life," and organizers encourage all attendees to "come together to celebrate this beautiful life that was handed down to us by the Creator." In a message posted at the Wikwemikong Heritage Organization website, chairperson Marie Eshkibok further notes, "We welcome all races of man to attend our festive weekend and come and share in our dances, food and songs."

MC duties will fall to Alex Fox of Wikwemikong and Osceola Redshirt of Greensboro, North Carolina. Head dancers will be Ray Trudeau and Cynthia Trudeau, both of Wiky. Other dancers and drummers will converge from points across Canada and the US.

Also in Wiky, the Debajehmujig Theatre Group will be performing its mainstage production, Biidaasigekwe Sunlight Woman, tonight (August 2) through Saturday, and again on Monday. All shows are at 8 pm at the Holy Cross Mission Ruins.

Elsewhere on Manitoulin, events include a fish fry on Thursday evening in Mindemoya at the community centre, a Moonlight Hike and Wolf Howl at Gordon's Park near Tehkummah on Friday night, and a flower show at Manitowaning's Knox United on Saturday from noon to 3 pm. As well, a memoir writing workshop runs from 1 to 4 pm on Saturday, at the John Budd Park Pavilion in South Baymouth.

EDITORIAL

New docks have Little Current waterfront hopping

A veritable forest of sailboat masts greeted anyone taking a casual stroll down the waterfront docks in Little Current over the past week, and it is a sight which has been very gratifying to both merchants and visitors alike.

Comments heard in conversations between visitors to the dockside compare the new finger docks favourably to major yacht clubs in large southern communities.

Such comments must be music to the ears of the Northeast Town mayor and council, who have had to weather several storms of controversy over their three-year tenure.

Most of the businesses in the downtown core report strong commerce over the past couple of months, and with the cost of gas and a high Canadian dollar causing some nervousness in a community very dependent on tourism, the season must appear magical to those who are able to stop a moment and look around.

It was said that if we built them, they would come, and the truth of that premise certainly seems to be borne out.

The next stages of the Little Current waterfront development are about to go on to the planning board, and an aggressive increase in the number of docks clearly makes good economic sense.

Little Current has a lot to offer the boating community, as indeed do other Island communities such as Gore Bay and Kagawong, among others, but the port of Little Current is fast becoming a destination for recreation vessels of all shapes and sizes.

The increasing number of mega-yachts that have chosen to visit the community this year bears some witness to the decision to accommodate those boats, and the issue of boaters being turned away while empty dock space is reserved will likely dissipate when there is more room at the inn for their smaller cousins.

Anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that smaller boats actually spend more in the community, but the ideal goal would to be able to adequately accommodate everyone comfortably. The more summer visitors come to the waterfront by boat, the more goods and services there will be to attract those who travel to the area by other means.

In the case of the new finger docks and waterfront development, a staged approach will allow for a smoother integration of the busier season. For those young men and women who come home seeking summer employment, and for those for whom the summer season allows existence through the leaner fall and winter months, it's all very, very good.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Boater finds new Little Current waterfront delightful

Offers some suggestions for improvement

To the Expositor:

I have been boating on vacation in the North Channel since the late 1980s. Little Current was viewed primarily as a utilitarian stop; i.e. fuel, repairs and provisioning. Aside from Turners, the main street held little interest. It was drab, dirty and generally run down. Docking was a constant nightmare due to the lack of accommodation at the town dock. The bridge remains an irritant. With the lower water levels in the late '90s, Spider Bay Marina was no longer an option for our boat. Therefore, a stop at Little Current rarely involved shopping on the front street.

In the past three seasons I have noticed significant and well appreciated improvements. The main street is now very interesting with a variety of unique boutiques. The new docks take the pressure off fighting for docking space. The dock hands are very helpful. The young staff at most stores are university students, and are all very polite. It is a pleasure talking to them. It is clear that Little Current is getting an infusion of quality people and resources capable of servicing the boating community which is getting more sophisticated. Your future plans are very exciting and will make Little Current a destination rather than just a provisioning stop.

As a result, this season we have spent three nights docked in Little Current. We eat out regularly at the Anchor Inn and The Pantry. Food and service at both are excellent, the staff delightful. We will be back in one week to pick up guests who will cruise with us for a week.

Is your investment paying off? Yes. To date we have spent over $300 in restaurants and $500 in boutiques, $250 for groceries and almost $1,000 on fuel, pump-outs and repairs.

Suggestions: 1. Either tear down or remodel the post office building. It is an eyesore and doesn't need to be on the town dock. Use that location for tourist information, post office, a banking machine, toilets, showers and basic supplies for boaters.

2. Reduce docking fees; they are a deterrent. Subsidize them if necessary.

3. Offer wireless Internet service to the docks. This will attract boaters to stay longer. Nowadays many, including myself, carry computers and BlackBerries or PDAs, enabling us to do business while away and prolong our vacation.

4. Fix your cell phone coverage at the docks (Rogers). There is none. Having to walk up the hill to make a phone call is irritating.

5. Offer some kind of continuous trolley service to the grocery stores. Carrying groceries to the docks limits the size of each order. The store delivery services are not always convenient.

6. Publish walking tour routes.

7. Offer a quick guide to Little Current facilities.

8. Retain and encourage uniqueness; avoid corporation stores such as Tim Hortons, McDonald's, Walmart, etc.

9. Don't hold the Mackinac Sailing Race in July during prime boating season. It is a deterrent to attracting recreational boaters such as me. I planned to be away from any port hosting the race.

10. Turn the main street into one way traffic; widen the pedestrian way and dress up with flower pots, etc. Make it more pedestrian friendly.

We are delighted with the way Little Current is reinventing itself. Keep up the good work.

Stan Albert and Marian Bache

Maple, Ont.

and the sailboat Alegria

Hydro workers applauded for recent storm efforts

The Island appreciates your timely response and hard work

To the Expositor:

I hope everyone takes a minute to pat our Hydro One workers on the back! After that storm on Monday they have worked so hard to put our hydro back to normal. Someone actually said to me this week, "Don't worry about them, we pay for it in our bills," when I tried to buy the group coffees. Let me make something clear and I think some people need reminders. This is their job, yes, but they have worked dawn to dusk righting the lines to bring back our convenience. These people have missed dinners with their families, quality time at home with their kids and loved ones, and no doubt lost sleep trying to do work for us. So be as kind to them as you are to your neighbour who helped clear those trees.

Thank you, Hydro workers. The Island appreciates your timely response and hard work!

Cathy Senior

Little Current and Sudbury

Barbecue cancer fundraisers defended

Worrying too much about it will kill us first

To the Expositor:

In response to the letter to the editor regarding barbecue fundraisers for the Canadian Cancer Society ("BBQs do not necessarily support cancer society," July 12), I say 'yes!'

Not only is it a good fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society but also for other organizations and groups through out the communities on the Island  as well. I think it is great that the members of these groups and organizations  take personal time from their jobs to support such causes.

M&M Meat Shops host an annual cross-Canada barbecue each May in support of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation. Both of these diseases are becoming more and more common and for a business to put such effort into a national event of this kind speaks volumes of the owners' respect for those people suffering from these diseases.

I personally love BBQ hot dogs, and for a buck or two, not only am I supporting a worthy cause-whether it be the Canadian Cancer Society, minor hockey or whatever-I am also having a very cheap meal.

My family also enjoys eating at McDonalds and Pizza Hut when we go to Sudbury and Lord knows what kind of preservatives are going into their food-and that is all for profit for huge corporations and the only people benefiting from that is the stockholders . I would like to note, however, that both of these restaurant chains do support many charities across Canada.

These are all my choices and I feel if I choose to eat these things then I will have to live with the consequences, if any.

I went to the Canadian Cancer Society's website and found all the information  quoted but I also found numerous fundraising events posted on the Ontario section that included barbecues.  If the Canadian Cancer Society is so opposed to barbecues, then why would they post these events? Wouldn't that make them hypocrites?

Also on this website it gives information about ways to help avoid getting cancer such as 'sun sense,' early detection, and being aware of genetic risk factors, just to name a few. Unfortunately, almost every day you hear of something else that is a cancer-causing agent.

Life is short and if we live it worrying about what types of food or drink, or how it is prepared, will give us cancer or any other disease, then the worrying itself will kill us first.

I guess in the end it comes down to eating in moderation  and taking care of yourself.

My theory is live life as it comes. There are going to be many bumps along the way but with the love and support of your family , friends and neighbours, those bumps can be smoothed out.

Yvonne Bailey

Gore Bay

Letters can also be dropped through the slot on the front door of the Expositor office.Send your Dear Dave letters to Box 369, Little Current, Ontario, P0P 1K0,