Co-op close to sale of grocery outlets

by Jim Moodie

MANITOULIN-A deal is close to being inked for the sale of the Co-op's grocery outlets in Little Current and Gore Bay, while the organization's fuel business is also coveted by at least one significant player.

John McNaughton, chair of the Manitoulin Livestock Co-operative board, confirmed that a disposal of both food stores is in the works, but declined to name the buyer as "nothing is finalized yet."

There has also been keen interest expressed in the Co-op's fuel line and bulk sales yard in Gore Bay, but again the board chair said it would be premature to go into the specifics.

"We believe we have a number of good deals coming up, but I can't say anything until everything is signed off," he said.

The board is optimistic, though, that transactions will soon be completed for these parts of its operation, both of which were traditionally profitable for the Co-op, although the fuel department has suffered in recent years from competition and market forces.

"We're quite pleased with the progress so far," said Mr. McNaughton. "We have had solid interest in nearly everything we have for sale, and we hope to have more information to announce in a couple of weeks. We're just waiting to get through the red tape and paperwork."

One buyer appears poised to snap up both Valu-Mart stores, while a variety of parties have expressed interest in the fuel side of the Co-op.

"We've probably had the most number of potential, qualified buyers for the fuel," said Mr. McNaughton, adding that it's the board's preference "to sell both the fuel business and bulk-fuel yard together."

The problem in dispensing quickly of the latter is that "financial institutions are reluctant to provide a loan for a property where soil might be contaminated, and buyers want to know that the contamination is within acceptable levels," said Mr. McNaughton. "So we're in the process of doing soil samples."

Meanwhile, an easement has been approved by Gore Bay council to facilitate the independent sale of that community's Valu-Mart and hardware stores, which exist side by side but haven't proven appealing as a package.

"Originally we had hoped to sell the entire property, with both stores, but we haven't had any interest in this from prospective buyers," Co-op manager Mike Addison told the Recorder last week. Instead, "we need to have the severance in order to sell the stores separately."

Earlier this month the Co-op parted with the first of its retail outlets, with Allen's Automotive officially acquiring the keys to the hardware store and gas station in Manitowaning.

All of the agricultural institution's assets have been on the block since late January, when the board, in consultation with the Co-op membership, made the difficult decision to seek buyers and cut its losses rather than continue on, at risk of reneging on its obligations to investors and pensioners.

The farm-focussed co-operative, formed in the waning years of World War II, diversified over the years to add fuel, groceries, clothes and pet food to its traditional lines of livestock feed and fertilizer, but recent changes in the retail market and a steep bill it was required to pay to help make up for a provincial pension-plan shortfall combined to push its profitability to the brink.

Should the grocery stores and fuel side of the operation now go, the Co-op would effectively cease to exist, save for the old cattle sales yard in Little Current, which suffered extensive damage in the windstorm of 2006 and is unlikely to be revived for its former purpose.

Mr. McNaughton remains confident, however, that even this property will find a taker. "We've had some parties interested, and while nothing has gone that seriously far yet, we hope to have most things wound up by this fall," he indicated.

Not that he or other board members take particular delight out of selling off the Co-op's various components. "It's tough to do, because it's been here so long, and we're also doing ourselves out of a job," he noted.

On the other hand, it's reassuring to him that, while the Co-op logo and brand won't likely survive much longer, the businesses themselves stand to survive and most employees should keep their positions. "Most of the things we're working on so far are looking good for job retention," he said.

The Co-op itself will also linger for a while yet, even if all its belongings are gone. "If everything sells, we'll still exist on paper for a couple of years," said Mr. McNaughton.

Norisle floating higher without asbestos

by Jim Moodie

MANITOWANING-The S.S. Norisle is now free of asbestos and it's full steam ahead for a restoration of the 62-year-old ship.

Detection last year of the frowned-upon fibre led to a lengthy delay in activity on board the vessel, as the newly formed Friends of the Norisle group-since rechristened the S.S. Norisle Steamship Society-sought a method of thoroughly, but affordably, removing the material to meet a Ministry of Labour directive.

The work has now been carried out, at cost, by the asbestos abatement division of Resource Environmental Associates (REA), a Markham firm that specializes in such cleanups. "The asbestos removal has been a complete success," said Rob Maguire, a member of the steamship society as well as Assiginack Township's economic development officer.

The environmental company waived its profit for the job, meaning the bill to the Norisle group was less than half of what it would have ordinarily cost. "The commercial value of the work was $126,000, and they did it for $59,000," said Mr. Maguire.

This was still a considerable outlay for a fledgling volunteer organization, but the group was able to raise funds through a variety of channels and all but an outstanding fee of $7,000 has now been paid to cover the cost of the job.

Asbestos was not rampant throughout the ship. "It only existed on the pipelines and in certain engine casings in the boiler," explained John Coulter, a marine engineer and key force behind the Norisle preservation effort.

Still, removal of the material must follow strict guidelines, particularly in regard to the type 3 asbestos that was present in the boiler room. "That area was highly contained," noted Mr. Maguire.

As a result, members of the REA team were present in Manitowaning for quite some time, adding a bit of hustle and bustle to a generally sleepy community. "It was a multi-week project," said Mr. Coulter, adding, "this is the first example of how the Norisle's refit will support the economic well-being of the community, with money coming in and being spent on food and accommodation."

Manitowaning's service sector also supported the effort by offering deals to the workers. "Muskie Widows had a special rate for food, and the Wayside Motel and Ann Maguire waived a significant amount of money to house them," pointed out Mr. Maguire.

"We started on June 10 and finished on July 2," said John Murphy, president of the environmental company that carried out the work. "There was an average of 10 people on the site while the job was going on, and when it was completed we had consulting staff go up to inspect the area and conduct air clearance testing in the type 3 area. We got the results on July 3 and it was all clean."

Mr. Murphy said he offered to do the work on a cost-recovery basis in part as "a favour to a friend," as he's a "great admirer of John Coulter," from whom he heard about the Norisle's situation. "It was also a bit of corporate philanthropy, and from a pragmatic perspective, it was a learning experience for us because we don't have a lot of prior experience on ships."

Many ships do require asbestos stripping, he said, but that generally occurs when the vessels are being dismantled, and "they tend to send them to India and Asia, where someone will be paid less and the environmental standards aren't as strict."

Mr. Murphy said the Norisle job was "an interesting project to work on, and our people were very well treated by everyone."

Ridding the ship of its asbestos albatross comes as a great relief to the stewardship group, as "we can now move forward on other projects," noted Mr. Maguire.

One of the most immediate tasks, said Mr. Coulter, "is to physically clean stuff off the ship." Volunteers had already removed a great deal of the clutter from the vessel, but the cleanup bee was put on hold last summer by the asbestos order and "we still have about 30 percent to deal with," estimated the marine engineer. "That should be a weekend's work for a volunteer party."

Once the miscellaneous junk is cleared from the vessel's decks, "the next job is to remove all the coal and stone ballast" from its bowels, said Mr. Coulter. "It's a dirty job, but it has to be done." Fortunately, the Norisle group has lined up the donation of a conveyor that can be used to schlep all this heavy stuff out of the ship.

"The coal will be sold to a future user," indicated Mr. Coulter. "As for the ballast, we're not sure, but it would make excellent landscaping material, because it's all big round boulders."

Steam-fitted equipment will also be removed over the remainder of the summer, but not for resale. These integral parts will be tuned up and polished anew by members of the Milton-based Ontario Steam and Antique Preservers Association-notably Wayne Fischer, the association's president, as well as Mr. Coulter and others, all on a voluntary basis-and then reinstalled on the ship.

While many of these on-board chores were put on hold until the asbestos concern could be resolved, the Norisle stewards have not sat idle. Significant headway has been made on other fronts.

With help from lawyer Anthony Peckham of the Stewart, Esten firm in Barrie, who once sailed aboard the Norisle and agreed to offer his services free of charge, the society obtained the right to use the S.S. Norisle Steamship Society name and developed a corporate logo and house flag that it will use in branding the project and applying for non-profit status.

As well, a promotional video has been created, compliments of Mindemoya computer wiz Patrick Kiley, in both a DVD long form, for use in presentations, and a shorter version that is posted online through YouTube. "It tells the story of the ship's past, present and future," said Mr. Maguire.

Some physical work has also occurred, with Elvin Shaw of Shaw Farm Supply and Septic Service in Mindemoya donating his time and equipment for a pumpout of the ship's bilge, for instance, while Wes Virtanen "did some diving for free," noted Mr. Maguire, "in order to survey the water below the ship."

Since the water level has declined over recent years in Manitowaning Bay, the ship is "rubbing a bit at the bow and stern," noted Mr. Maguire. To remedy that problem, a plan is under way to move the ship's berth out three feet from the dock, via steel 'dolphins'-a form of extended fender-so that she sits in deeper water. Noreng Construction of Sudbury has donated "three big I-beams" for this purpose, while Manitoulin Truss is prepared to pick the material up and "we're getting volunteer welders to fabricate the extensions," said Mr. Maguire.

Meanwhile, Mr. Coulter, along with a naval architect named Bill Graham, are busily working-in their spare time, pro bono-on a redesign of the ship's space. "My main engagement right now is to carry on with the interior design aspects of the vessel and the changes necessary for its conversion to a cruise ship," Mr. Coulter explained.

The Norisle was, of course, built for service as a ferry, meaning the ship has "extensive open areas that were used as car decks," noted Mr. Coulter. But since its stewards feel the ship's next incarnation should be as a "pocket liner" geared solely to walk-on passengers, such areas cry out to be "converted into staterooms and associated facilities," said the marine expert.

The Norisle did boast overnight accommodation in its day, and a few of these cozy (well, cramped) rooms can still be found on its upper level, but they were never what would properly be called staterooms, said Mr. Coulter. "They're cabinettes, with barely enough room to swing a cat, so not the kind of thing you want if you're going on a five-day cruise."

His drawings call for more spacious three-piece rooms that would be arranged throughout the lower levels of the ship-as is the norm, he noted, for cruise ships-and meet four-star standards in terms of comfort and convenience.

The marine engineer "worked on this all winter" and is now "putting the final touches on the design specifications," he said, with help from Mr. Graham, an associate of his who is highly regarded in the marine industry. "I did the conceptual design drawings, and what Bill is now doing is to adapt those designs to the new Coast Guard regulations."

Once the drawings are complete, "the next step is to have the Coast Guard bless the design," noted Mr. Coulter, adding that any vessel intended for commercial use must meet SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea) criteria. "Once that's done, we can apply some costings and start to fundraise."

Putting together enough money for a re-launch of the retired craft will no doubt prove to be the biggest challenge of all, yet Mr. Coulter believes there's considerable demand for the type of cruise ship the Norisle stands to become. "A government survey recently indicated that there's a need for about 15 cruise ships here on the Great Lakes," he pointed out.

Cruise ships do already traverse our waters, of course, with many popping by Little Current over the past decade, but most of these are either in the foreign, massive category, like the MS Columbus, or homegrown but undersized, like the Nantucket Clipper.

The Norisle, should its restoration "be blessed for completion," would represent "the biggest and best to sail under a Canadian flag on the Great Lakes," said Mr. Coulter. "The niche we'd be filling is that of a large, classic Great Lakes ship that's been brought back to a very high standard."

He admits that the project remains in its "embryonic stage," while pointing out that the asbestos-removal job provides a good early indication of the willpower that exists to whip the ship back into shape, as well as the spinoffs that attend such endeavours.

"Yesterday, it was a lot of theory, but hey, we've now put some substance to that theory," he enthused. "We now have all of the important components of a team, either right here or on standby, and as this refit proceeds, we hope to use a lot of local tradespeople for the work."

For Mr. Coulter, who previously spearheaded the campaign to revive the highly successful Segwun steamer on Lake Muskoka, the Norisle has become a driving passion, enough so that his evenings and weekends (he holds a day job with the Technical Standards and Safety Authority) have pretty much been consumed with the ship and its potential to steam forth once more. "It's not uncommon for me to spend dozens of hours a week on this," he said.

Not that he minds. "It's a very exciting project to work on and it's going to serve an incredible need on the Great Lakes," he said.

OPP_commissioner tours old police boathouse

Little Current man bringing Canada's first 'Alex's Lemonade Stand' to Haweater

by Lindsay Kelly

LITTLE CURRENT-Purchasing a glass of lemonade this Haweater Weekend will quench your thirst and go a long way to helping find a cure for childhood cancer.

This year, Haweater Weekend will play host to Alex's Lemonade Stand, a fundraising initiative that raises money for childhood cancer research. On August 2 and 3 from 10 am to 5 pm, patrons can stop by the lemonade stand, which will be set up along Water Street, and enjoy a glass of lemonade for free. All organizers ask is that you make a donation to the foundation, with all proceeds going to aid in the search for a cure for childhood cancer.

The idea originated in the United States, with a little girl named Alex Scott who battled cancer from a young age. And it's because of the efforts of tireless Little Current volunteer Roy Eaton that the idea has spread to Canada.

Mr. Eaton originally heard about Alex's story while searching the Internet for interesting bits of news to share on Cruiser's Net, the marine radio channel he operates in the morning from the Anchor Inn.

"There's so much bad news these days, I try to look for positive things that I can share with the boaters," he explains. "Alex's story drew the most comments throughout the summer."

Her tale is a poignant one.

In 1996, at the mere ate of one, Alex was diagnosed with neuroblastoma-a common form of childhood cancer that stems from the hormonal and nervous system-and given a 40 percent chance of survival.

At four years old, despite her illness, the young patient decided she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise some money, Mr. Eaton said. When her parents protested that they would get her whatever she desired, alleviating a need for her to fundraise, she explained that the money wasn't for herself. "Alex told her parents, 'I want to have a lemonade stand and whatever I raise I want to give the money to my doctors so they can fight cancer,'" Mr. Eaton explained.

Alex's Lemonade Stand was born and in the first year, with the support of the hospital staff and her community, Alex raised $2,000. She began holding the event annually, and similar events began popping up across the country.

Unfortunately, the young patient's condition worsened, but she was determined to organize one last lemonade stand fundraiser, and although very weak, she fulfilled her commitment.

"She wanted to raise $1 million," Mr. Eaton said. "She reached that goal and just a few weeks later, Alex passed away at the age of eight years old."

As of July, 2008, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer has raised $20 million for childhood cancer research in the United States.

Because he was so moved by her tale, Mr. Eaton joined the website and signed up to receive email updates, and as he learned more about the foundation, "I felt more and more I wanted to do something in Canada," he said.

He contacted the local chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society to determine whether a similar initiative had been started in Canada, but to no avail. "We have the Terry Fox Run, and the Relay For Life and all these fundraisers for cancer," Mr. Eaton noted, "but nothing for children, and nothing going specifically to childhood cancer."

He decided to change that.

Mr. Eaton arranged to have an Alex's Lemonade Stand set up in Little Current-the first of its kind, to his knowledge, in Canada. Proceeds will be split between the Canadian Cancer Society and Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer. Representatives from the Canadian Cancer Society will be on hand to issue receipts for donations and to provide information about childhood cancer.

In a port that welcomes visitors from both sides of the border, Mr. Eaton reasoned that Canadians can donate to Canadian research, while American visitors can have their donation go to research in the US.

"With the MacMan (yacht race), we say that sailing has no real borders," Mr. Eaton noted. "And certainly, of anything, childhood cancer has no borders."

In Canada, cancer is the leading cause of death in children over a month old, second only to accidents, and two-thirds of the cases lead to complications, Mr. Eaton noted. There is a need for research money so that more children can take part in clinical trials, which will speed up the search for a cure.

Certainly, Manitoulin has experienced its own brush with childhood cancer. Manitowaning tot Landen Harasym-Demontigny was diagnosed with childhood leukemia earlier this year, and has spent the last several months undergoing treatment at Sick Kids hospital in Toronto. The good news is that the two-and-a-half-year-old is responding well to treatment, and his family hopes to bring him home soon.

Islanders have been very supportive of the family during their difficult time, and support for Alex's Lemonade Stand has already begun sprouting. The Little Current Business Improvement Area has donated $200 to the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Little Current Legion has donated a total of $2,000 to the initiative; half of that money will go to the lemonade stand, while half will go to the Canadian Cancer Society. The Little Current Lions Club has been equally generous, providing $2,000-with $1,000 going to each organization-and an additional $500 to help Mr. Eaton purchase T-shirts, cover expenses and purchase books about Alex's story, which he plans to donate to the Little Current library.

Additionally, Farquhar Dairies has agreed to donate all the lemonade that will be served throughout the weekend.

Mr. Eaton is now reaching out to the community to put their support behind the initiative, and he's also looking for youth-both locals and visitors-who are interested in working at the booth over Haweater Weekend. He's encouraging parents and interested youth to contact him at 368-2148.

Mr. Eaton has been overwhelmed by the support, calling the response so far "phenomenal," and is excited about bringing Alex's Lemonade Stand to Canada.

"I have two goals," he said. "One is to raise money, and the second is just to increase awareness about childhood cancer research."

EDITORIAL

Tourism strategy must take into account new realities

We're well into July and there is no question about it: unexpectedly high fuel prices, layoffs in the domestic auto industry, and other factors as well, have so far taken their toll. Transient tourist traffic is down so far this season. The decrease in power boat traffic on the North Channel, fewer visits than usual at the Welcome Centre in Little Current and a decline in Chi-Cheemaun traffic all tell the same story: so far this year, there are fewer spontaneous visits to Manitoulin.

This trend may well reverse itself in August. We hope so.

In a year's time, should the higher prices for automotive and home-heating fuels appear to be the new normal, Canadians will adjust and manage their resources to include family vacations because in a society that has grown so fast-paced and competitive, "time away" is increasingly important.

The board of directors of the Owen Sound Transportation Company, the organization that manages the M.S. Chi-Cheemaun on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, considered a mid-season elimination of the late-night sailing (the one that, during the summer months, leaves South Baymouth at 10 pm, arriving at Tobermory at midnight) and wisely rejected this course of action in spite of much-decreased traffic on both legs of this final crossing of the day during the summer months.

As one Manitoulin member of the Owen Sound Transportation Company board of directors observed in a news story last week in The Expositor, a mid-season change of a scheduled service would have been a public relations disaster.

And who knows what next year will bring, or the year after that? In all probability, a return to what we've been used to, perhaps in some as-yet-identified form.

What we can count on, though, is a shift in the choices that transient tourists-both those who visit us by land and water-will likely make.

In all probability, and especially if fuel prices remain at close to what we've experienced this spring and summer, people planning driving or boating vacations will choose their destinations more carefully.

And this is where a region like Manitoulin Island must begin now to develop a strategy that will make use of existing resources in order to present "the world's largest freshwater Island" as a must-visit destination.

And together with the natural beauty and geological features (such as the ones being presented in this summer's "Visiting Manitoulin?" series) that define Manitoulin Island, no-one knows better than the editorial staff of this paper about the enormous spectrum of summer festivals, activities and events that take place across the length and breadth of Manitoulin every year. The editorial staff knows about them because they have to cover them-and more than often, it's a significant juggling act to visit every event-and then to fit them into the following week's paper.

Manitoulin has become a community of festivals and these events and activities-fun or cultural or both together-as an Island-wide phenomenon could easily further assist to define and position us in a market for people planning family vacations that will in all likelihood prove increasingly competitive.

We know what we have here and it's nothing short of fantastic. The weekend just past, for example, is an excellent snapshot of a myriad of planned activities, all relatively close to one another geographically.

We had a first-rate art tour all weekend long and spanning Manitoulin, outdoor entertainment Friday evening at M'Chigeeng's Ojibwe Cultural Foundation, a series of plays at the Gore Bay Summer Theatre, a free Summerfest Weekend in Manitowaning (complete with a smash-up derby), a wine-tasting event and a magic show (one for adults, another for kids).

These events took place all over Manitoulin and, for drivers, the higher cost of gasoline must be mitigated to a large extent by the breathtaking scenery and natural phenomena they are privileged to see as they travel from venue to venue.

Next weekend it's more of the same and the weekend after that, just as it was the weekend before this one, and so on.

Clearly we've got lots going on.

The times we live in, perhaps the new reality of things, call for us to take what we've got, brand it and market it.

It is certainly a challenge for organizations, like the Manitoulin Tourism Association and the Great Spirit Circle Trail, to rise to the occasion in order to bring the tourist visits back to normal.

Letters to the Editor

Fresh air and sunshine are denied to those with mental illness

Unless they take up smoking

To the Expositor:

As a patient admitted to the Northeast Mental Health Centre six years ago, I was stuck in a building with no fresh air or sunlight. The only way the powers that be would allow me or any other patient to go outside is if you went out for a cigarette. God had allowed me to quit this evil habit two years prior to my admittance, and when I was informed I had a new God, he or she said if you want out for fresh air, you must smoke cigarettes. They are not evil. Needless to say I got outside, listened to my new God, and for some unknown reason I smoked that evil cigarette and got sick all the way back up to my room. Needless to say I have been stuck on this evil habit ever since.

Six years ago I complained to my patient advisor that I wanted outside for fresh air and nothing ever happened. Well, I was back over to visit a friend and was informed that this practice is still in effect today. No outside privileges unless you smoke. I called our wonderful human rights board and they advised me I should contact the people that work for the doctor and patient advisor.

If your institution has any heart, you will allow fresh air and not try to get so many people hooked up in the bondage of pills and cigarettes.

Scott Orr

Little Current

A prayer that stolen bicycles result in sleepless nights

Lack of sleep will demonstrate a conscience and maybe that there is hope for your spirit

To the Expositor:

I would like to say "thank you so very much" to whoever made off with my husband and son's bicycles. John and Noah really loved to go biking together, but perhaps they didn't enjoy it as much as you will.

We may appear to be doing very well for ourselves, but we struggle financially like most people. Noah saved up to help pay for his bike and I saved every chance I got to buy John a good bike that would be comfortable for his back. These bikes were not cheap. I really wanted them both to have bikes of good quality that would last them a long time. I hope that whoever has them now will treat them well and with respect.

I can't, however, quite understand how you will get satisfaction from these bikes like John and Noah have. After all, you didn't work hard to earn them; you haven't taken them to 'Bike Medics' each spring for Chris to tune them up and make sure they were in good running order. You haven't worked hard to strap them onto the back of the car so they could go to the East Coast when we visited our families-a visit that for the first time in years did not involve death or sickness. You have no memories tied to these bikes, but I do hope you enjoy them for the time you have them. I do hope you will not be able to sleep due to the guilt of your theft. Not sleeping will show that you do have a conscience and that there is hope for you and your spirit.

Please take good care of the bikes. Be safe and wear your helmets and you are in our prayers.

Tammy, John and Noah Albers

Little Current