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Interest in re-starting local community association peters out
Meeting results: Canaan Community Association closer to reality
November 16, 2004: Organizing Meeting for a community association
Do we need a community association? |
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| Canaan Community Association not a priority |
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Interest in re-starting a local community association has as they say in parliament, died on
the order table. While a number of enthusiastic people gathered to form a group back in November of 2004, there
was not enough will within the community for anyone to take on the leadership.
And so the idea, which was put forward by Ward five councillor Kyle Cyr and Canaan
Connexion editor, Patrick Meikle, has been shelved.
"I was hoping that we could get an association going so we could deal with things like Neighbourhood
Watch, block parenting, developing communications for events, yard sales and working as a combined voice to deal
with the City," says Meikle. "I guess it's going to take another major crisis like the water fiasco to
light a fire under the residents."
If anyone is interested in taking up the cause, or in getting involved they can call 833-1547
or send and e-mail to the Canaan Connexion: 
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Meeting results:
Canaan Community Association closer to reality |
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 A small but enthusiastic group of residents gathered at the Parc Simon Chamberland Centre on Tuesday night
to discuss the restoration of a community association for the Canaan Road area. The original Blue Jay - Forest
Hill community association was created to address concerns with the developer at the time, Tempra. The association
petered out some years ago. The revived association would take in the entire northwest quadrant of Clarence-Rockland
that is bordered within Canaan, Baseline, Joanisse and Vinette Roads.
Residents from Canaan, Joanisse and Vinette Roads, as well as from Blue Jay Ridge and Forest
Hill developments attended the meeting.
The need to revive the organization was promoted in view of growing development in the area,
common concerns such as neighbourhood watch (there was a rash of vandalism and thefts from cars over the summer),
traffic lights at Canaan and Highway 174, a need to have effective communication amongst the residents (remember
the water project fiasco) and the ability to work as a strong unified force when approaching the City of Clarence-Rockland
on various community requirements.
The fact that many new and younger families were moving into the area bringing an increase in
the youth population was also a factor to consider. It was agreed that the needs of the community youth must be
met with in order to offer them some kind of activities and direction.
Other concerns that were raised from the floor were varied: speeding along Vinette and other
local roads especially where children were playing (What is the speed limit when signs are not posted?); the lack
of a street light at the corner of Baseline and Canaan; the confusion over the 911 system when the number is accessed
using a cell phone; the lack of cutting weeds and trees that are growing in ditches; the continuous dumping of
debris and garbage by passing motorists and the fact that many drivers simply do not stop for existing stop signs.
Luc Diotte from the Clarence-Rockland Community Watch sat in on the meeting and presented the
group with some of the security weaknesses his organization has found while patrolling in the area. He underlined
the need for a neighbourhood watch.
Area councillor, Kyle Cyr also attended the meeting to offer suggestions to those present. In
particular he advised that an organized community association would have much more strength in addressing concerns
before city council. He also used the opportunity to announce the City’s plans to install traffic lights at the
intersection of Canaan Road and Highway 174. (For that story, click here.)
By the end of the meeting those in attendance were all in agreement that a community association
was needed. A number of individuals stepped forward to offer their services on a new executive or to volunteer
for specific tasks such as neighbourhood watch or to investigate what the traffic speeds should actually be.
Several residents who could not attend Tuesday’s gathering but who want to become involved in
a community association will be contacted and put in touch with those who volunteered on Tuesday. A meeting will
then be called to form an executive from which specific board positions, tasks and a direction plan will be launched.
Once this is done then a further meeting with area residents will be called.
Anyone wanting to get involved can call 833-1547 or send and e-mail to the Canaan Connexion:
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Tuesday, November 16 set for organizing meeting:
(7:30 p.m., Chamberland Centre, Parc Simon, off Laurier Street) |
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Residents bound by Canaan Road, Vinette, Joanisse and Baseline Roads, and including the Blue
Jay Ridge and Forest Hill developments please take note! We have organized a meeting for 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, November
16, to be held at the Chamberland Centre, just inside the northern entrance to Parc Simon.
The purpose of this gathering is to restore a community association which was originally started
over ten years ago and which petered out in the late 90s.
Many of our “Canaan” residents have expressed concerns about a neighbourhood watch program, a
possible block parent program, uncertainty about lights and traffic safety at Highway 174 and developing a strong
and united voice when working with the City administration.
It is also important to have a well organized community in terms of communicating current and
timely news with each other for the purpose of neighbourhood security, upcoming events (ie the “water project”),
and resolving community concerns and disputes that arise from time to time.
For those of you who have been offering to help with a local community association, and for those
of you who share in the interests and concerns raised above, this is your opportunity to get in on the ground floor
and to help us build a stronger community. Your ideas and assistance will be most welcome.
Again, the Chamberland Centre is just inside the northern entrance to Parc Simon, which is accessible
off of Laurier Street, directly opposite Pilon Fuels. That’s just east of the Clarence-Rockland City Hall.
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| Do we need a community Association? |
| If you live here, care for your community. A number of residents have expressed an interest in forming
a community association because of the special interests and concerns that we have in our quarter of Clarence-Rockland.
We could look at things like Neighbourhood Watch, block parenting, developing communications for events, yard sales,
working as a combined force to deal with the City, etc. What do you think? E-mail us at:
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Neighbourhood Watch
Our communities joined the Neighbourhood Watch campaign several years ago but the
effort has become all but dormant.
All that remains really are the signs along Canaan Road and the individual sub-divisions.
Part of the problem is a lack of active volunteers to do regular updates.
Local Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) coordinator, Constable Diana Hampson, has
offered to help us if we want to re- establish an active group with regular meetings.
It is incumbent on all of us to participate in the Neighbourhood Watch program,
even if we do not get regular updates through the volunteer telephone tree.
Be a "nosy neighbour" when it comes to any suspicious activity that you
come across, and contact the OPP. Their "police assistance" number is: 1-888-310-1122.
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