Category Dpbfyloz

Three-year prison term for Midland parking lot death

A London man was sentenced to prison last week (Aug. 7) for causing the death of a Wyevale man in a crowded Midland parking lot two years ago.

Jason Heffernan, 25, was sentenced to three years in prison with an eight-year driving prohibition after he pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing the death of Corby Stott, 29, a father of two young children who witnessed the incident.

Court heard how hundreds of drivers were trapped in an overcrowded parking lot at the Midland Walmart plaza during a heat wave on Canada Day weekend July 2, 2016 when the incident happened.

Several drivers tried to escape the mayhem by driving the wrong way in a one-way shipping lane, blocking up traffic even more. The victim, Stott, got out of his vehicle and stood in front of the wrong-way drivers and urged them to turn around. In some cases he was polite, in others he was hostile, court heard. Witnesses testified at a preliminary hearing that Stott stood in front of vehicles with his arms folded. He taunted  drivers, saying “hit me, hit,” court heard.

Stott ended up on the hood of Heffernan’s vehicle and then was thrown off as Heffernan drove at about 43 kilometres per hour. He landed face-down on the pavement and died of severe head trauma.

In court the judge stated she believed Heffernan did not “intend” to hurt anyone, however he should have known that driving with a man on his hood had potential to cause harm or death.

The Crown had asked for an eight-year sentence and 20-year driving prohibition, stating Heffernan used his vehicle as a weapon.

Heffernan, a licensed mechanic, dabbed at tears with a tissue and quietly nodded goodbye to his family as a police officer took him away. The judge recommended Heffernan be sent to a minimum-security prison, but he will first be sent to a maximum-security prison for about a two-month assessment period.

Outside of court the victim’s family members wept and said a three-year sentence was not enough.

“My son was just trying to get his life in gear for his two young boys,” said the victim’s mother, Paulett Stott, outside of court following the sentencing. “His life was taken away from him.” She broke into tears and could not comment further.

Wasaga store contributes to cross-Canada cycling cause

A Wasaga Beach grocery store held a charity barbecue event for two local teachers who will be cycling across Canada next summer, raising more than $600.

James Carson and Nancy Newman will be setting off from St. John’s on July 1 on a campaign to raise awareness about youth mental health issues they’ve named From the Rock to the Rockies.

On June 30, Mike and Cheri Dopp of Foodland held a charity barbecue for the pair.


Freshii offers healthy options in Innisfil

It’s no surprise Innisfil’s Freshii opened on Canada Day.

The Canadian-born franchise was opened by Matthew Corrin more than a decade ago and has now grown to more than 400 stores worldwide.

Innisfil location owner Tappinder Jhajj owns a store in Bolton and saw the opportunity to bring the chain to Alcona.

Freshii offers fresh salads, wraps, salad bowls, burritos and soups, along with fresh squeezed juice and smoothies.

“The concept is healthy fast food. There is no freezer in the back. Our carrots are carrots, not pre-packaged frozen ones.”

Everything starts out as a vegetarian dish and you can add your protein, whether it’s tofu, falafel, chicken or steak, Jhajj said.

Collingwood’s gathering circle to honour Indigenous heritage

The first project of Collingwood’s Waterfront Master Plan will celebrate the Indigenous heritage of the region and the country.

At the July 9 council meeting, parks, recreation and culture staff unveiled the design for the gathering circle.

The project will be constructed on top of a two-metre berm at Harbourview Park.

Town consultant Cal Brook said his group worked with four Indigenous architects with guidance and vision coming from Dr. Duke Redbird, an elder with the Saugeen First Nation.

“I think it represents a real progressive vision that the town has chosen to start with this kind of project,” Brook said. “When we are working with our Indigenous partners, it’s critical that process is being led by our Indigenous partners.”

The design replicates a food forest and features tree like posts with canopies on top.

There are benches at the bottom with each one featuring the name of one of the seven grandfather teachings.

“Each canopy has a different pattern related to seven grandfather teachings,” said Brook. “I’m really proud to be part of this.”

Brook said Redbird, a lifelong educator, saw this as a place to bring school groups.

“The opportunity he saw with this project was not just a gathering place but a kind tool that someone like he could use to take people through a story and a journey that talked about Indigenous world views, history, culture,” he said.

Dean Collver, director of parks, recreation and culture, said the project is expected to be completed by September. The town will be receiving from the Steelworkers union who while in town for a conference, will be offering financial contribution but in-kind labour support for the project.

He said their contribution saved the project about $100,000.

However, Collver said the project will come in higher than the projected $600,000 budget and he plans to return to council to ask for the extra amount, which will come out of reserves.

The Waterfront Master Plan was introduced in 2016 and is a three phase, $50 million project that could be completed over the next 17 years.

 

 

Georgian Bay in danger of grass carp invasion, wetland destruction

A Midland-based foundation is worried about grass carp invading the Great Lakes and destroying Georgian Bay wetlands.

The Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation is calling for the United States Environmental Protection Agency to begin grass carp eradication measures immediately.

“Grass carp eat vegetation and they will eat up all of our wetlands,” said Mary Muter, Chair of the Foundation. “They will rip our wetlands apart and chop them all down.”

Muter believes the Great Lakes are in danger, as grass carp have invaded two Ohio rivers that flow into Lake Erie and nothing is being done to stop them from spawning downstream.

Grass carp have already been found in Lake Erie and Lake Huron. The largest grass carp discovered in Lake Erie was over 51 inches long and weighed 72 pounds.

Research by Pat Chow-Fraser, a professor at McMaster University, states that Georgian Bay contains the highest quality, most diverse and extensive wetlands found in the Great Lakes.

“We don’t want our wetlands destroyed by these very large invasive fish,” said Muter. “Our native fish and other species need that wetlands for spawning, nursing and feeding habitat.”

The Foundation is calling for increased co-operation between Ontario, Ohio and Michigan and would like to see a collaborative approach taken to eradicate grass carp.

“I think it is time for Canadians to speak up. We don’t need to be polite on this anymore,” said Muter. “We need our federal and provincial governments to tell Ohio and Michigan … that we want to see a plan for eradication begin.”

Muter is frustrated by the lack of appropriate response she has seen from United States on the matter and believes it is time for them to ask Canada for help.

“This is now a crisis,” said Muter. “Our Fisheries and Oceans Canada staff and Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry staff stand ready to go down and assist in an eradication program.”

The Georgian Bay Great Lakes Foundation is hosting a fundraiser on Aug. 11 in Tiny Township which will feature the tribute band Classic Lightfoot. All proceeds will be directed toward ecologically responsible measures to eradicate grass carp.

For tickets go to the website


Orillia native and former Snowbird competes in ‘The Amazing Race’

Mark LaVerdiere has soared through the sky while executing aerobatic manoeuvres that would leave the average mortal dizzy with fear.

A member of the iconic Snowbirds precision flying team from 2007 to 2010, as well as having served as a fighter pilot, LaVerdiere was no doubt well equipped to face his latest thrill-filled challenge.

Paired with a longtime friend and fellow flyer, the Orillia native recently faced off against nine other teams during filming for the latest season of Amazing Race Canada, dubbed the Heroes Edition.

“I certainly don’t consider myself a hero,” LaVerdiere told Simcoe.com in a phone interview during a break from his work contract flying overseas. “I’m just an average guy from small-town Orillia, Ontario.”

An avid follower of the show, LaVerdiere last fall was approached by a friend who suggested he audition for the popular reality TV series.

As appealing as the idea was, he did not expect to be selected.

“I never thought for a second they would even consider me,” he said.

LaVerdiere, who is no stranger to the sort of daring feats that viewers of The Amazing Race tune in for, ultimately made the cut after an application process that included an audition video.

“I’m into bungee jumping, I scuba dive, I skydive — there is nothing I won’t do,” he said. “I have no phobias, per se.”

Nicknamed ‘Happy’ for his resemblance to Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore character — LaVerdiere was partnered with Corey ‘Chewy’ Liddle, a retired Air Force pilot with whom he attended aviation college in Thunder Bay in the late 1980s/early 1990s.

“It’s kind of a long friendship,” he added.

Filming for the series started in late April and lasted until the end of May and included multiple locations that reinforced his admiration for the country he calls home.

“Flying F-18s and flying for the Snowbirds, obviously I’ve seen a lot of Canada from the sky,” he added. “Being down on the ground and visiting different communities and locations, it really just brings home the point of how lucky we are to live in Canada and how beautiful it really is.”

Interviewed in advance of the show’s July 3 start, the 48-year-old father of three was unable to discuss specific details.

More broadly, he said viewers could expect to see him and his fellow competitors — among them first responders, teachers, mentors, and athletes — engaged in fear-based challenges, problem solving, navigation, and other experiences that were familiar territory for the seasoned pilot.

Even when others “got freaked out a little bit … we always stayed kind of calm and cool,” LaVerdiere added.

While skill and determination certainly play a role in the competition, “some things you just kind of have to roll the dice.

“If you are lucky, good, if you are not lucky, well, that’s unfortunate,” he added.

LaVerdiere was raised in Orillia on Canice Street and attended Mount Slaven School and ODCVI.

He and his family now split their time between Saskatchewan and a cottage in Muskoka.

(LaVerdiere and Liddle were eliminated in the first episode.)

Collingwood’s Victoria Annex up for sale

The Victoria Annex property is for sale.

The former school site is located at 400 Maple St. and is currently zoned for residential development.

The property, owned by Victoria Annex Development Corporation, is part of the receivership filing of Paramount Equity Fund that includes properties across Ontario.

Grant Thornton was appointed the receiver in August 2017 and documents show the property is mortgaged to $2.6 million.

The site has had two previous development proposals including condominium and town homes.

According to the listing at realtor.com, the deadline to submit bids is July 18 at 5 p.m., and the current starting bid is $1.

After an in-camera session on May 14, council directed its lawyer to file a court motion to determine if the town can proceed with designating the property under the Ontario Heritage Act.