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"Bean-Fate" Saskatchewan
 Coming from Saskatchewan and knowing little bits
of its history, a town that comes to mind is "Bean fate" (say it out loud), at least that is how the English speaking
residents of the province call it. It is actually spelled Bienfait.
It was thought that it was named by a French Railroad worker when he pounded in the last spike of the day at the
town location and was heard to say "Bien Fait" or "Well Done" in French. But that is not the
case. Read our feature story on Beanfate!...
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Wikipedia protests SOPA with blackout
 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012) Two
Internet resources that this community news service uses many times a day, are Google and Wikipedia. These resources are invaluable not only to
journalists, but to all Internet users.
On Wednesday, several big name Internet sites, lead by the giant Wikipedia. shut their services down to protest against
proposed legislation in the United States—the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the U.S. House of Representatives,
and the PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the U.S. Senate. View 10 awesome SOPA blackouts here.
It would appear that the maneuver had some effect because as one news service put it: "US
lawmakers appear to be abandoning their support for controversial copyright legislation after one of the biggest
online protests in history." Read more related to this story...
Read our original coverage here...
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White Tams visit Rockland
 (Wednesday, January 11, 2012) The "White  Tams" (Journal vers Demain) aka Pilgrims of Saint Michael, were spotted on Laurier Street in Rockland today. This ultra-right-wing
Cathjolic group has been around for decades.
Their mission, according to their wiebsite says: "A journal of Catholic patriots for the Social Credit monetary
reform through the education of the population and not through politicial parties." Their actions are self-explanatory.
Click on Louis Even's picture and also read more about this organization here.
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Budget deliberations for Alfred-Plantagenet Township
 (Vision Newspaper) The A-P Council begins its overall review
of the draft budget document during a two-day special session Jan. 16 and 17 at the municipal hall in Plantagenet.
Chief Administrator Marc Daigneault noted that residents are invited to attend the public review sessions. Read more...
(Click on graphic to go to A-P website.)
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OPP investigate infant death in Hawkesbury
 The Review is reporting
that the Ontario Provincial Police in Hawkesbury does not suspect foul play in the death of a 16-month-old child
in Hawkesbury on Saturday, January 7.
Officers were called to a residence on James Street shortly after 10:20 a.m. after the child
was discovered that morning in her crib without signs of life.
"What we had to do, just like in a sudden death case involving an adult, we have to investigate
and determine if there was foul play involved," said Const. Pierre Dubois. Read more...
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National Defence anouncement to move employees
to Ottawa west creates local reaction
 The Ministry of National Defence announcement to relocate its offices in the
former Nortel building in Kanata, has caused a local reaction. Read more...
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Rockland - OPP officers bitten by same dog, same day
 Two OPP officers in Russell County have run afoul of a dog that seems to have
a taste for lawmen.
The officers were bitten Jan. 5 by the same dog in separate incidents at the same residence in
Clarence-Rockland.
In each case, the injuries were minor.
Police are reminding homeowners that they’re responsibile for the control of their dog and to
make sure dogs are securely tied.
Every time a person is bit by a dog, it is requested that the municipal by-law is contacted along
as with the local Health Department. It is important to keep all medical records of the animal’s shots.
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Gourmet food store a welcome addition
 (Rockland, January 5,
2012)In this week's edition on page 14, the Vision Newspaper wrote a nice story on a "new local gourmet food store"
operated by Marie-France Gagnon. However they failed to give the location and phone number of the establishment.
We visited the store and spoke to Marie-France. Her location is at 2026 Laurier Street, near the Subway restaurant.
Read more...
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Stephane Lacroix
New heart... A Christmas miracle
 Rockland's Stéphane Lacroix has been on a physical
and emotioCer-coaster for the past few months... a battery-powered pump keeping his heart beating. It seems that
a virus attacked his heart. In late November, Stéphane was transferred to Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto.
Fast forward... tThe people of Clarence-Rockland have raised several thousand dollars to help Stéphane Lacroix's
family cover expenses while he is in hospital. Some of Stéphane’s school friends visited him at Sick Kids,
bringing the proceeds of the fundraising. A local business, Grenon’s Independent Grocery, donated $5,000. Even
the local Ontario Provincial Police detachment got involved in raising funds. (Click on
pic to enlarge.) Read more from the Ottawa Citizen...
(The Vision Newspaper also has an excellent story on Stéphane, written by local reporter Katina Diep. You
can read the online edition here.) |
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Hawkesbury couple win $50-million lottery
 Gaëtan and Jo-Ann Champagne were on their way to the Rideau
Carleton Raceway to play the slots on New Year's Eve when they decided to pull over to check their Lotto Max ticket.
However the Hawkesbury couple must wait before claiming the prize because of their past ownership
of a convenience store that sold lottery tickets.
They owned Jo's Depanneur for 12 years before selling it in October, and until recently Jo Ann
was also employed at the store. Read more...
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OPP find "Festive RIDE" results disturbing
 Ontario Provincial Police in eastern Ontario said they laid over 100 charges
for impaired driving or refusing a roadside test over the holidays... twice as many as last year. "The results
are disturbing..."
In a related story, Ottawa Police laid 289 charges for distracted driving and driving
in bus lanes. Read more...
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Two Bourget women killed on Champlain Road
 A
Bourget mother and daughter are dead following a three-vehicle crash on Champlain Road between Henri Road and Du
Golf Road. Bertha Clairoux, 51, was pronounced dead at the scene and her 74-year-old mother, Doris Billings, was
transported to hospital in critical condition where she died within two hours. Read more...
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Fire leaves Rockland family homeless
at Christmas
(Click on pic to enlarge.)
With only three days to Christmas, the Lafond family lost the contents of their
home to an accidental fire. Fortunately there were no serious injuries, although Suzanne Lafond is suffering from
the after effects of smoke inhalation.
(SEE Citizen story, photos and video here.)
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14-year-old charged with robbery in Rockland
(Wednesday, December 21, 2011) A 14-year-old has been charged in connection with a robbery at
the New Horizon gift shop on Laurier Street. More...
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Rockland's Food Basics installs a DVD kiosk
 Look who's getting into the movie
rental business.
DVD rental kiosks are becoming popular with several major business and food outlets, and now
the fad has hit Rockland.
You can rent first run DVDs (including some Blue Ray selections) using your credit card for a
one evening time period, and all for only One Dollar! The selection is small, but what might you expect for such
a small fee.
Anybody try them yet? Let us know. Click on the picture for a larger image
(Yes... Blue Ray movies cost Two Dollars. -S.M., Rockland)
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Ottawa Police ready to fine
drivers for using GPS
 The grace period is over and Ottawa police say they will start
ticketing drivers who use GPS units while driving.
The popular global positioning system units are classified as electronic devices and frequent
glances at a GPS unit can be as much a risk and distraction as checking any other electronic device, he said..
Read more...
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CBC's Kathleen Petty - Interview
update
 You probably have heard that former CBC Ottawa Morning host Kathleen Petty is currently being treated
for cancer. She was about to embark on a new venture hosting the Calgary morning show when she was diagnosed. She
chose to remain in Ottawa because of the treatment available in Ottawa. Links to the interviews...
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Russell County OPP officer Jacques Thibeault honoured for bravery
(left to right): OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis; Provincial Constable Jacques Thibeault;
Lieutenant Governor David Onley, Hon. Madeleine Meilleur,
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
(Photo courtesy OPP)(Click on picture to get an enlarged view.)
Back in March of this year, the Canaan Connexion reported that a Russell County OPP officer was heralded for saving a suicidal woman who tried to burn
her house down while she was barricaded inside (See story here).
Fast forward to November 28 and a ceremony at Queen's Park where constable Jacques Thibeault
was awarded the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery, the highest honor that a policeman can receive. (Read more...)
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Kevin Nelson
Radio station loses its majic (Kevin Nelson) |
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Friends and colleagues are
remembering former radio host Kevin Nelson, who died Tuesday at 52 years old. The longtime morning show host on
Majic 100, an FM soft rock radio station, died after a lengthy battle with a liver illness. Read more and view video...
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Rockland's Emmanuel Perron fights bullying with UTube video
(Rockland, December 9,2011) Emmanuel Perron, 16, is the latest high-schooler to make a YouTube
video expressing the torment he has faced from bullying. “My Secrets, My Life” was posted on De. 3 and shows the
Rockland teen sharing his message on a series of cue cards set to the tune of Sarah McLachlan’s song Angel. Click here.
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Rockland: Citizens' Committee question council conduct
(Forward concerns to Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing minister)
The Clarence-Rockland Citizens' Committee held a press conference on Monday morning to fu rther their concerns over the local council's conduct, citing a number of emails published
by Sergio Netaliano on Facebook last summer. They suggested that although they did not know the identity of the
individual, they believe the documents to be authentic.
And the purpose of the press conference, according to André Branchaud, committee spokesperson, is to publicly
release a Committee letter delivered to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mrs Kathleen Wynne, conveying
to the Minister "our significant concern about the content of the emails dealing with Clarence-Rockland municipal
affairs published on Facebook last summer, asking her to take appropriate measures to protect the interests of
the Clarence-Rockland citizens".
Read more, including
related news stories and the full text of Branchaud's remarks...
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Ontario Ombudsman has received five complaints
regarding C-R Council
Who's swearing now
Le Droit newspaper is reporting that from June to August, the Ontario Ombudsman received five
"similar" complaints about alleged inconsistencies in town meetings, including "three from municipal
councillors," says Linda Williamson, Director of Communications for the Ontario Ombudsman.
Eassentially, all complaints will be investigated to determine if an investigation is required.
Read more (French language)...
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Embrun couple face child porn related charges
Ontario Provincial Police say an Embrun couple will appear in court later this month to face
charges related to child pornography. Police say the request to investigate came from RCMP in July after a discovery
made during a forensic search of a computer related to a separate criminal offence.
Now, 58-year-old Alain Couture and 58-year-old Ruth Graham-Couture are charged with two counts
of possessing child porn and one count of accessing it. The couple was arrested last month. Both will appear in
court on Dec. 21.
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Ste.Trinité goes electronic:
Rockland's Catholic church goes modern
A sign of the times adorns the Ste. Trinité property. The electronic bulletin
board
attracts more viewers, but will it bring in more church goers. More...
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Cynthia Vanier: Canadian woman
denies role in
Mexico Gadhafi plot
(Is there a Rockland connection?...none we could find.)
According to several Canadian news sources, "Cynthia Vanier of Mount Forest, Ont., has been
under house arrest in Mexico since early November, when she and three others were accused of plotting to smuggle
al-Saadi Gadhafi and his family from Niger to Mexico's Pacific coast.".
The Canaan Connexion earlier learned from one Spanish news service that "Cyndi (what her friends
call her), lives in the small town of Clarence-Rockland, province of Ontario. Read the story below... click here. (We have since confirmed
that although there is a Cynthia Vanier living in Rockland, she is in no way connected to this story.)
Another Spanish source can be found here.
(We will be persuing this story further. Can anyone verify the Spanish text for us??)
(If you do a Google search under the "News" option, using "Cynthia Vanier"
(keep the quotation marks), you will find several stories related to this item, Including this one: Canadian woman denies role in Mexico Gadhafi plot. -Ed.)
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Gone but not forgotten
Harry Morgan (April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) was an American actor. He was widely known for his role as Colonel
Sherman T. Potter in M*A*S*H
Read more...
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Clarence-Rockland donates
a fire truck to Cité Collégiale
L'Express Ottawa is reporting that the preparatory program of Fire Services at Cité Collégiale
has a new piece of equipment that will be of great use as part of their training, thanks to the City of Clarence-Rockland's
donation of a fire truck. Read more (French
language)...
 The Ottawa Citizen
also carried a story of this event: Donated truck to help firefighters-to-be at Cité
Collégiale. Read
about it here...
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Belle Rive residence: Accidental fire could have been worse
(Rockland - Thursday, December 1, 2011) A smoke detector has prevented what could have been a
major tragedy at a Rockland seniors' residence.
Part of the 85 unit Belle Rive seniors building on Laurier Street had to be evacuated after a fire broke out in
one of the apartments, just before 1:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Fortunately, a smoke detector went off to alert
the staff, and another break was that the residents were all in the dining room at the time.
 Clarence-Rockland fire chief Pierre Sabourin told the Canaan Connexion that the blaze was
started accidentally when a lamp fell on to a couch. He said that there was no structural damage but the smoke
played havoc with the interior of the apartment.
Staff put out the flames and when the fire fighters arrived, they removed the couch outside and ventilated the
room.
Given the circumstances "everything went well", said chief Sabourin, the residence fire plan worked,
the residents were evacuated to a "safe zone" and the building has smoke detectors and fire doors.
Damage is estimated at $10-thousand. No injuries were reported.
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Clarence-Rockland's Santa Claus Parade
Thanks to the Clarence-Rockland Citizen's Facebook page for providing
this video clip of Sunday's Santa Claus parade. Click here to view the video...
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Medical journal calls on hospitals to scrap parking fees
ABOUT TIME!! We are happy to see that someone is calling for an end to hospital parking fees:
Sick patients and their families have enough to deal with than have to
worry about feeding the meter when they need regular dialysis,
chemotherapy or other care that requires endless trips to hospital...
The story: Canada's top
medical journal is calling for an end to universally
loathed hospital parking charges, calling parking fees a barrier to
health care that should be scrapped. Read More...
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Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty wades into
Beau’s beer home-delivery controversy
Last week, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario shut
down a delivery service launched by
Vankleek Hill's Beau’s in partnership with Operation Come Home,
an Ottawa charity dedicated to helping homeless young people.
This week the home delivery service for Beau’s beer reached the desk of Ontario Premier
Dalton McGuinty and our own liberal MPP Grant Crack said that he has discussed
the issue with McGuinty, who wants the road cleared for the specialty brew. Read More...
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Mayor received an icy reception at a town-hall meeting
A special "In-Camera" meeting was called for the Clarence-Rockland City Council for
Wednesday evening, but judging from reports the public and members of the news media were evidently only informed
thanks to someone from inside the council.
On Thursday, the Ottawa Citizen reported:
"Clarence-Rockland councillors refuse to OK in camera session" More...
Le Droit reported:
"(Council) Meeting shortened in Clarence-Rockland"
More...
The French CBC (Radio-Canada) reported on the meeting as well:
(Click on the link and go to the second news item) More...
The Vision reported:
"Special council session shuts down before it even starts"
More...
Later on Thursday, the Ottawa Citizen reported:
"Clarence-Rockland councillors want Ontario ombudsman to review handling of town
meetings" More...
Also view the interesting comments found on the Clarence-Rockland
Citizens Facebook page (found on the upper right-hand corner above) as well as on our
own:
"Canaan Connexion's Message Centre" More...
Editorial comment from the Canaan Connexion:
In an online exclusive, the Vision newspaper reported in part:
"a surprise vote of six to three against the in-camera portion ended
the special session of council almost as soon as it began.
Councillors Bernard Payer, Raymond Serrurier, Guy Desjardins, Michel Thivièrge, Guy Félio and Renè
Campeau all voted against having the in-camera session. Mayor Guibord and councillors Diane Choinière and
André Henrie voted to have the huis clos."
What we find most unusual, about this vote is that Mayor Guibord and his cronies consistently
win many of the contentious votes in a five-to-four fashion, something like this:
Guibord, Félio, Choinière, Campeau, Henrie
- vs -
Payer, Serrurier, Desjardins, Thiviérge
...most unusual! - Ed.
SEE ALSO André Branchaud's take on the meeting on our Message Centre... More...
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Cynthia
Vanier: Canadian woman denies role in Mexico Gadhafi plot
(Here is the Spanish text, roughly translated...)
Cynthia Vanier presumed to be an expert mediator, whether land claims between indigenous communities,
conflicts between government bodies or kidnappings. With over two decades of work, as he advised the Canadian government
in resolving conflicts with the natives of the Sioux territory, which peacekeeping missions the United Nations.
Cyndi, her friends call her, lives in the small town of Clarence-Rockland,
west of the province of Ontario. And at its offices in Mount Forest could have a team
of "immediate response".
In the middle of this year, on behalf of SNC-Lavalin, one of the largest construction of this American nation,
Vanier began preparing an expedition to Libya, apparently aim was to assess the impact of NATO bombing in territory
then ruled by Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
The Canadian company had distinguished addition to its mega infrastructure projects, as a sponsor of the football
team where he played Saadi.
The mission lasted 10 days. Vanier integrate a team of specialists who would work fact-finding and hired Gary Peters,
a exmilitar who served the Queen in Australia and Canada, who had recently set up a security company. The expedition
also would have translation services Razwan Mahmod, a Libyan living in Windsor, Ontario.
To move to the African nation, where a revolution was underway, Canadians turned to Veritas Security Worldwide,
headquartered in San Diego, California, whose extensive portfolio of clients includes personalities from both sides
of the Rio Grande.
The firm, owned by Joseph Casas, a Marine exinfante U.S. has among its top executives to former officials of that
nation's embassy in Mexico and Mexican public exservidores also, as the lawyer Antonio Martínez Luna, who
worked in the Customs Tijuana and Reynosa.
Cyndi contacted Gregory Gillispie, also exmarine, a veteran of the Gulf War and vice president of special operations
Veritas. That company leased a Hawker 800 jet, which flew from Toluca to Kitchener to pick up the expedition. Except
translator crew and the passengers were Canadian. His fees amounted to $ 1.000 a day.
The trip began on July 17. Almost immediately, the aircraft was forced down in Gander, Newfoundland. Canadian officials
made a routine inspection and questioning focused on Mexican drivers and the Libyan citizen. And without delving,
left to follow the flight, which made stops in Pristina, Kosovo, and in Tunisia, before landing in Tripoli.
Four months later, in a hotel in Paseo de la Reforma, near the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, Cindy was arrested and subjected
to a root with three other people, including two American employees of Veritas, "victims of circumstance "Gillispie
said.
It was early November. According to security consultant, Vanier had not paid the bill for the issuance of $ 80.000
in July.
After weeks of unsuccessful collection, received a call from the Canadian negotiating, which he proposed a meeting
in Mexico City to deliver a check and agree a new contract: in 2012 nine planned trip to Libya. If liquidated debt
and guaranteed payment of $ 400.000 exmarine 'replied the Gulfstream jet, would have at your service.
Vanier's arrest had an impact on Ontario. National Post began to reconstruct the story. The Canadian Embassy in
Mexico confirmed that they had been entrenched. Mexican authorities got nothing.
In mid-October, two of its reporters contacted Gary Peters, Cyndi escort and consultants hired by SNC-Lavalin.
The interview of October 27, is amazing: the ex-soldier relates that after the stay in July, he returned to Tripoli
to deal with the safety of the third son of Libyan dictator.
Days before the fall of Gaddafi, details, brought to Saadi and his sister Libyan territory. But he was wounded
and after a journey that took him to Tunisia and Frankfurt, took a flight to Toronto. When he reached home, bleeding
from his left shoulder. I still had a bullet embedded in his costs.
That testimony led to the discovery-Saadi plans of 38 years to take refuge in the Americas. The journalists were
told that the Libyan chief had bought a property in Mexico, but the operation failed escape after NATO and rebel
forces to intensify the siege Gaddafi.
Cindy Mexican partners had purchased a Punta Mita, presumed Peters. That the plan had also been conducted with
the approval of the Mexican government, which would provide all necessary documentation. "There is no evidence
that Mexican authorities have considered granting permission to Saadi and his family to settle in Mexican territory,"
the newspaper reported.
Yesterday, the Mexican government revealed the details of Operation Guest, supposedly based on Mexican intelligence
..., obtained after the arrest of Cyndi Vanier.
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Also
worth a read... previous headlines
Daniel Gatien - Look who's smiling now
(Mississauga,
ON, June 21, 2011)Daniel Gatien, Chief Administrative Officer and Clerk for the Town of Clarence-Rockland, was
sworn in as President of AMCTO (the Association of 
Recent news stories have suggested that Rockland is grabbing businesses that Orleans would dearly love
to have. Check our our new "Business" page to read about some of the new stores that have opened. 
(These are my impressions, trying to decipher the French dialogue between a room full of ambient noise
and a mayor and council that are at times barely audible, even with microphones.)
and 
