October - Amherst Island

20 Pages·2013·1.91 MB·English

Beacon
Amherst
Island
BONA LIBENTER, TRISTIA MAESTITER, MALA NUMQUAM
Issue 423 October 2013
This Issue – Ian Murray, Editor, Judy Bierma did the production work on this Beacon, Don Tubb will
continue to do the subscription work. Sally has declined to be official co-editor despite doing the job.
SUSAN GRACE GIBSON McGINN
The Amherst Island BEACON
Issue 423, October 2013
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Susan died peacefully at her home on Sunday September 22, 2013
Submission Deadline 25th of each surrounde d with the love of her family.
month
Susan McGinn (nee Gibson) in her 83rd year beloved wife of the late
Printed By Burke’s Printing 457
Advance Ave. Nappanee K7R 3Z5 Arthur McGinn. Loving mother of Bonnie; Andrew (Mary); Russell
[email protected] Credits (Jane); Cheryl (Myles); Gail; and Dan (Glenda). Pre-deceased by one
Word for Mac Family Tree Maker
son William and two daughters Grace and Dale.
9.0
All her grand-, great- and great great grandchildren will fondly miss
little “Gram”. Dear sister to Cora McGinn (Keith); Wade (Marilyn);
Hazel deHann and Marion.
Pre-deceased by 5 brothers and 3 sisters. Survived by many nieces and
nephews and their families. Special thanks to St. Elizabeth Nursing

Service especially Dawn Maracle; The Nursing Staff of Can. Care: Judy
Grier of Hospice and Dr. Hans Westenberg. The funeral service was
held Thursday at 10 a.m. in the funeral home. Interment Glenwood
The
PAGE 1
nights; Susan would be expecting us so the cards
Cemetery, Amherst Island. As expressions of sympathy
and the table were ready for a game. This game
the family would appreciate donations (By Cheque Only)
usually lasted into the early hours of the morning.
to The Alzheimer’s Assoc.
When at last we said we had to go home Susan's
words were "you 'needn’t' be in a hurry!"
*****
Susan was a dedicated smoker (if one can be
SUSAN McGINN’S EULOGY dedicated to smoking???). Anyhow she was a
-
smoker. Ask her when she started smoking - her
Wade Gibson
answer was "I don't remember not smoking". If
Today we are gathered here to celebrate the life of an
no tobacco was available string wrapped in
amazing woman. A woman who did not know the
brown paper worked quite well. A few years ago
meaning of the words "I give up". A woman who
she saw her doctor for a complete physical. When
courageously and with dignity held onto life even when
the doctor completed this and found her blood
most of us thought it was over. This woman was Susan
pressure, heart and lungs really good, he asked
Grace Gibson McGinn. Also known as Susan Grace the
her how long had she smoked? When she gave
Gooseberry Grinder. (An alias given to her by Uncle Tom
her usual reply, he thought the tobacco
Denee).
companies could use her as their poster girl to
Stature-wise Susan was very small and as Dr. Burleigh
promote the use of tobacco.
said, never weighed more than ninety-nine pounds
Susan married Arthur John Robert McGinn and
soaking wet. She may have been small but in her mind
they had a family of nine children, four boys and

she could tackle anyone or anything.
five girls. Although the house may have been full
When we were kids in the evening, we would put on boxing there was always room for more. On the nights
gloves and have little bouts with Dad as the referee. Susan before opening days of bass season, duck hunting
could hold her own with any of us. I always thought if |I was and deer hunting I have been there in the evening
ever in a bar room brawl Ii would want Susan guarding my and as the dooryard and house started to fill up I
back. remember saying to Susan "Where are all these
people going to sleep?" Her answer was "I throw
I remember her telling about the time when was in a hurry to down a pile of blankets and pillows. They grab
catch the ferry. A number of birders had the Emerald Forty them up and if they can't find a couch or chair,
Foot blocked. She wanted them to move and move quickly. they sleep on the floor."
One apparently asked her if she was 'local'. Susan thought Back to her family, Susan and Art had nine
they said 'loco'. Her reply was "you get out of my way now children; twenty-one grandchildren; thirty-seven
or you will see whether I'm loco or not!" great-grand children and four great great
grandchildren. These numbers were collected
Susan liked nothing better than to sit with a cup of coffee and with the help of Gail, so any complaints see Gail!
relate stories from the past. Her long-term memory was
outstanding. She could remember the smallest details and
Earlier I said Susan's theory in life was
was great at telling them. Many an evening she would
"never give up". Well because of that I am
entertain us with school day memories. I used to listen and
able to be here and do this eulogy. When I
shake my head, wondering how those teachers coped with
was very small for some reason I decided to
the shenanigans she and the others pulled off.
try eating a piece of broken 78 r.p.m.

record. This got lodged in my throat. Dad
One of my favourites was when a girl had brought a ball to
and Uncle Tom tried and tried to get it out. I
school but didn't want to share. Susan just had to slug her for
was choking to death and had turned blue.
not sharing. Away the girl went to tell the teacher. Susan
At last they laid me on the couch and said I
knew she would be in trouble so she bit herself on the arm
was gone. There was nothing more they
and said the girl had done it and that was why she felt she
could do. Susan yelled "Don't give up" and
had to retaliate.
grabbed me and with her small hand half

way down my throat was able to push it
Susan loved to play euchre. Give her a pack of cards and
down. In gratitude she says I bit the hell out
three others to join her and she was set for the evening. For
of her fingers. When I told this story to one
the last number of years, Hazel and I have been going out on PAGE 2
Friday nights; Susan would be expecting us so the cards and
the table were ready for a game. This game usually lasted
into the early hours of the morning. When at last we said we
person her first question was “When you pass gas does it play the song from the record?"
Susan always seemed to be around when help was needed. She has often told the story of Bill stepping on a nail
in Emerald. She and Bill went into Violet's and she bandaged it. They set out for home. A mile away from home
the pain was so bad Bill couldn't walk any further. Susan to the rescue put him on her back and carried him
home.
Susan had to be the biggest fan ever of Country Music. Her motto was "if it ain't country, it ain't music!" I
have taken some lines from a song byA Lneec Aesntno Wrso moafc kS tuhasta In th iGnki bdesfoinne Susan's outlook on life.

John Andrew Gibson, Sr
b: October 12, 1871
d: 1956
Antoine Denee, Sr
John Andrew "Andy" Gibson b: 1793
b: 1894
d: 1962
Thomas Denee
b: Abt. 1817
Catherine Asselstine
John "Jack" Denee
b: 1847
d: 1925
Alexander McMullen
b: 1780
d: Abt. 1850
Jane McMullen
b: 1817
d: Abt. 1851
Jane Houston
Grace Denee
b: 1788
b: 1874
d: 1913
Robert Bailey
Susan Gibson Mary Jane Bailey
b: 1931 b: 1843
d: September 22, 2013 d: December 23, 1923
Ann Jane ???
William Dushane
Myrtle May Dushane
b: 1902
d: 1972
Susan ?
PAGE 3
Susan always seemed to be around when help was
Our sympathy to the children, grand- and
needed. She has often told the story of Bill stepping
great-grandchildren of Susan McGinn. Susan
on a nail in Emerald. She and Bill went into Violet's
passed away in late September after a lengthy
and she bandaged it. They set out for home. A mile
illness, in the home where she raised her family
away from home the pain was so bad Bill couldn't
at the Head of the Island. Our sympathy also to
walk any further. Susan to the rescue put him on her
her sisters and brother.
back and carried him home.
Susan had to be the biggest fan ever of Country Congratulations to Helen Trotter and Doug
Music. Her motto was "if it isn’t country, it isn’t Shurtliffe on the birth of their first grandchild.
music!" I have taken some lines from a song by Lee Helen’s daughter Tabytha and husband Tyler
Ann Womack that I think define Susan's outlook on
Zsapira welcomed their first son in September.
life.
“May you never take one single breath for granted.
God forbid love ever leaves you empty-handed. Gary and Lesley McDonald spent 10 days in
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the Newfoundland getting ready for, and attending,
ocean. daughter Alison‘s marriage on September
When one door closes I hope one more opens. 21st. The rest of Alison’s Island family and
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance. friends arrived in time for the wedding and did
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, a bit of sightseeing for a few days afterwards.
I hope you dance. I hope you dance.”
Congratulations to Shannon Youell (daughter
And dance she did! She never asked for much in
of Laurie Youell) and her new husband, John
life. Was always satisfied with what she had, and as
Shurtleff. They were married in Toronto at a
long as she had her family and grandchildren around
Blue Jays game on September 28th. In honour of
her she was happy.
their marriage, the Jays actually won the game!
Life dealt her a few nasty blows but she always
met them face on and pushed them behind her.
Adam, Barb and Allan Miller, visited friends
Susan, may God bless you and welcome you into
and did some sightseeing in New Brunswick.
his home. I am sure there will be lots of room and if
not there is always a blanket and pillow for the floor. Ted Welbanks and Karen Miller travelled to
He never knows when He will need someone to help Romania to visit Ted's son John and his family.
carry the burdens.
When I got word that Susan's struggle with life Brian and Eva Little got away for a few days to
had ended these lines came to mind. They express visit Cape Cod and Boston, while sons Jack and
how I picture her far better than I am able to: Angus were on a trip to Disney World, in Florida
“In her dreams she rides wild horses with their aunt Robin.
And they carry her away on the wind
The 13th annual Harvest Festival was held at
And they never make a sound
the end of September on a perfect Fall afternoon
As they fly above the ground
at the Reid farm on Front Rd. Jim and Sandra
Tonight she'll ride wild horses again”
out did themselves this year with the set-up and
We loved you Sue and we will miss you but will
decorations. Music for the afternoon was
never forget you. Bye Sue: always lots of good
provided by Dan Simpson and Country Rhythm.
memories.
Some of the more popular events included; the
*****
Brown Bag Auction; Bale Rolling and Cross Cut
NEIGHBOURHOOD saw competitions & the Nail Driving
-
Competition. There were some great booths set
Lynn Fleming
up, lots of livestock and machinery exhibits and
Get Well this month to Susie Caughey, Alicia horse drawn wagon rides.
Wolfreys, Ted Wemp, Victoria Cuyler.
We have been enjoying a beautiful Fall so far
Condolences to Lily Horner, following the passing
of her mother.
on the Island - with cool nights and
PAGE 4
beautiful, sunny days. will take the noon ferry.
On Sept. 10th, 9 AIWI members travelled to
This year, and am finding I do miss my kids and my
Cherry Valley WI where their group
South Shore drive twice a day - but I am enjoying not
reciprocated after a visit here last summer with
getting up in the dark!
a prettily presented lunch in their
lovely Community Hall. We enjoyed renewing
The snowbirds are starting to plan for their
friendships and watched a delightful video of
migration south, cottages are being closed, gardens
Prince Edward County.
harvested, and the kids have completed their first
Our meeting ended with a Brown Bag auction
month back at school.
with Carol Kolga as a most persuasive
I chose to give up driving the school bus this year auctioneer. We all headed home with our
and am finding I do miss my kids and my South treasures after thanking our hostesses Marilyn
Shore drive twice a day but I am enjoying not getting Pilon and Mary Kay Steel for a delicious lunch.
up in the dark! Our next meeting is October 16 at 6 pm at St
Paul's. It will be a Rose program, open to the
*****
public at 7 pm, when Joyce Brown will speak on
WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
- Claire
genealogy.

Jenney
JANET’S JOTTINGS
- Janet

Sixteen members of the AIWI met on Sept. 18th at Scott
7 pm at Marilyn Pilon's home for a productive “The Joys of a Mud puddle”
evening of business and pleasure. Sherri Jensen, a
One does not always look at a mud puddle
new member, was introduced and warmly
with the same eyes. Memories and reflections
welcomed.
will always temper the slant that we put on the
The Minutes and Financial Statement were
common everyday things in our daily lives.
approved as was a motion to pay small bills and
When I see a mud puddle I look at it with
while the containers for "Pennies" for Friendship
Grandmother’s eyes and I remember my
and Collection were being passed around Pres. Liz
granddaughter at two stamping in the puddles
Harrison read aloud a delightful Thank You for Kids
in the school yard making lots of splashes and
Day from Amy Caughey Bermann and her
laughs and getting us both wet. I can look back
daughters.
and see my children playing in the mud puddles,
Joyce Haines reported that there is an Area
splashing, creating and learning about the flow
meeting in Glenburnie on Oct. 17th and some
of water and the basics of dam building. In my
members will represent AI. And a District bus trip
own childhood there were the days playing in
to Oshawa for a play and dinner is being organized
at $95.00 per person. Saskatchewan gumbo at my cousins’ farm and
Andrea Cross reported that three copies of Kate getting totally filthy. What do you see when you
Hewitt's novel, Down Jasper Lane, will be placed in look at a mud puddle? What memories does it
the Amherstview and Bath libraries and in the AIWI bring back?
collection.
One beautiful day in September my birding
In other news, AI aprons are selling briskly, a
friends and I discovered the joys of birding at a
$500.00 donation has been made to the Red Cross in
mud puddle. We had turned north on the Dump
the wake of the Lac Megantic disaster and $50.00
Road from the Second Concession when we
will in future accompany the Heritage and Social
came upon a mud puddle, sheltered on both
Studies award. The Financial Committee has tabled
sides of the road with bushes and grape vines
a report of our donations for 2012-2013 with some
and warmed by the sun. A couple of birds were
guidelines for future donations.
splashing and bathing in that puddle so we
The Fall road cleanup of County Rd 4 will be held
stopped well back and used our binoculars to
on Thursday, Oct 24th.
focus in on these little fellows. Over the next half
Another lunch for members will be held on Friday,
hour we had crept closer with the
Sept. 27th, this time at Loyalist Grill in Bath. Diners
PAGE 5
c
chance to compare and contrast shape, size and
feathers to both waterproof and protect. One of markings on these two yellow birds. On the east
the good signs that Sue Meech looks for in a side of the road Golden-crowned Kinglets hunted for
recovering bird is: “Has it started to preen?” s m a l l i n s e c t s a m o n g t h e l eaves and Nashville,
I wish that I had written down in order the birds Magnolia and Yellow Warblers were active, flitting
that we saw that day in the puddle but I can tell so fast we couldn’t identify them. It helped so much
you the variety and different species that we saw. having five pairs of eyes to follow their flights.
The first splashing birds that we had seen as we
When our birding was over we all appreciated the
approached were sparrows and over the next half
joys found in that mud puddle, the colours of fall
hour we identified a Song Sparrow with its dark
and the camaraderie and closeness of five women
brown streaking and the black dot on its breast, a
packed in a Ford Focus that we all share. I wish you
House Sparrow originally brought to North
many mud puddles in your life dtoo so that you
America from Europe and now very numerous
ignore the dirt and wet and find the treasures that
here, male has a black bib and gray cap while the
abound there. *****
female is light brown and faintly striped, a
Chipping Sparrow with a rusty red cap and dark
Monarch Butterfly Report
–
eye-line and a White-throated Sparrow with a
Sally Bowen
streaked light and dark brown head and a white
chin. White-throated Sparrows also come with
[The Topsy Farms Frame House is a “Monarch Way
black and white heads but this one was brown
Station” site, designated as such by the University of
striped. In Spring the White-throated Sparrow
Kansas. I receive a quarterly report. Here is the
sings “O Canada, Canada, Canada”. A Catbird
most recent one:]
skulked around the grape vines and then visited
the puddle for a bath. American Robins, one So where are the Monarchs this year??
looking very young, must have been a late nester,
bathed, splashed and checked out nearby wet spots As you may know, the overwintering monarch
for worms and bugs. Cedar Waxwings fed on the population for the 2012-2013 season was the
fall grapes and showed off their neatly pressed smallest recorded to date:
outfits. They always look as if they’ve just stepped http://monarchwatch.org/blog/2013/03/monarch-
out of a band box. The young Cedar Waxwings have population-status-18/
a messier hairdo as if trying out teenage spikes but
To recover from a bad year, the conditions for the
soon their crests will grow in.
development of the population the following year
One of our attentive birders was quick enough to have to be favorable. Unfortunately, the conditions
catch sight of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird this spring were not favorable for a rapid recovery.
visiting a purple aster right beside the car and Blue
Jays called and patrolled the outside perimeters of The temperatures in Texas in the spring were colder
our birding site. The colours of fall, the purple of than normal as were the conditions at the time that
asters and burgundy weeds, golden rod and dark the first generation Monarchs moved north (May-
grapes made a masterpiece of Autumn against the early June). The result of the combination of a low
bronPzraeess aenntd la gooreldets, nouf ngcr vaesls es and leaves. A bare returning population with the temperatures and
braponrcthti tporr oelveimdeendt uam p, esermch n fisoir an Eastern Phoebe, in weather patterns of the spring was a low early
its coolmivme ooduot afintt ew, uitth c ocnrseeaqmuayt yellow vest, as it flew summer Monarch population.
est mi et diam. Praesent
out and back grabbing flying insects but leaving the
dignissim tincidunt libero. Is there a chance that the population can rebound as
bright orange Monarch alone as it drifted past the
Curabitur augue justo, pretium it has before? Yes, but the temperatures in nearly all
asters. A small black and white Downy
sed, placerat vel, porta eget,
of the northern breeding range would have to be
Woodpeckerp wedoer. k ed his way through the nearby
above normal by 2-3F throughout the summer for
trees looking for breakfast. Downys will drill holes
Morbi neque libero, tincidunt the population to increase. None of the
in the galls that appear on Goldenrod stems in
adipiscing, aliquam ut,
observations, or data to date, suggest either a strong
ordneorn utom emayt i tnh, nei stii.n Inyt ecgaetre erup illar living inside.
migration or a
Yeallnotew. I Wn aalirqbulaemr sip asnudm Aidm niesri.i can Goldfinches shared
the same puddle and gave our birders a wonderful PPAAGGEE 66
wintering population that will be larger than the AIMS MEETING

1.19 hectares measured last year. In fact, the
September 14, 2013 at 8 a.m - Anders Bennick
population is likely to be even lower.
Breakfast: Thank you to Ken Albertan for

preparing a continental style breakfast.

Marc Raymond and Ross Haines volunteered to
Please visit the Monarch Watch Blog for a more
prepare breakfast for the October meeting
detailed account of the current Monarch
Attendance: 17 members, Convener: Hugh
population and updates as the season progresses:
Jenney, Agenda 1. Presentation: The speaker was
http://monarchwatch.org/blog
Gardner McBride who talked about plans to
establish an agricultural and crafts based
cooperative on the Island. In a cooperative, a
group of people comes together to meet common
needs. They own the assets of the cooperative in

common and make decisions democratically. One
of the benefits of the proposed cooperative is that
it would create an Island brand that would
facilitate distribution and sale of any items
produced by members of the cooperative. In this
way it could also facilitate any new economic
activities. At present agriculture on the Island are
mostly centered around animal rearing and
commodity crops, but other activities are
possible that could benefit from a cooperative.
Berry growing is attractive because it can be done
on small lots and Island processing (e.g. jams and
jellies from berries) could add value to the
commodities. Among berries Haskap are
particularly attractive because the profit is much
higher than that from berries such as raspberries
PPhhoottoo bbyy VViicckkii KKeeiitthh
and blackberries. Haskap is an arboreal plant and
Amherst Island is at the southern most limit of
the growth zone. It is particularly valued in
COUNCIL GLEANINGS - Asiatic countries, partly because of the berries
high content of antioxidants, which are useful in
Ian Murray
the body’s ability to fight various diseases and
From Special Meeting of Council, 22nd Session,
ageing related processes. Calculations suggest
September 14
that once maturity of the berry bushes has been
Mayor Lowry reported that during the Closed
reached (5 years) the gross margin per acre is
Session portion of the meeting that the C.A.O.,
~$39,000 and the total direct costs would be ~
Harry Schlange, advised Council that he had
$ 15000. The University of Saskatchewan has
accepted a job offer from Niagara Region.
developed cultivars suitable for Canadian climate
***
and Haskap berries are already grown elsewhere
There has been only one new house permit in Ontario. Presently growth trials are being done
issued for Amherst Island since January 1, 2012. on the Island using various cultivation
***** procedures.
Gardner also discussed various growth problems
and means to overcome these as well as possible
ways in which a cooperative could facilitate the
cultivation of Haskap berries. Help to
start a cooperative is available from PAGE 7
the Canadian Co-operative Association
and it is also possible to get grants and
low cost loans; expertise is available
and means to overcome these as well as possible THE CHEESEMAKER’S DAUGHTER

ways in which a cooperative could facilitate the
(the oldest one) – Judy Bierma
cultivation of Haskap berries. Help to start a
cooperative is available from the Canadian Co- Chapter 4: Memories…memories of the old Sand
operative Association and it is also possible to get Beach, the Baxter Beach. I am so very happy the
grants and low cost loans; expertise is available to Loyalist Township purchased the beach along with
avoid pitfalls in getting started. another organization, a Conservation Association.
As a child in the sixties we visited the beach often.
Some of the advantages of joining a co-op are that
Mom had four kids so when we went to the beach
expertise and information can be shared,
we took the Ivory Soap with us to have our bath,
government support is available to members, cost
perhaps weekly bath. I can’t really remember how
of equipment and supplies can be shared, as can
often we bathed. It’s not like the daily showers
marketing and participation in adding value to the
that most people have now days. With four kids to
product. Finally Gardner discussed mechanisms
bathe it was a great help to bathe them all at once
for starting a cooperative. 2. Minutes of the last
in the lake. Mom took Ivory Soap, a bar of it
meeting. The minutes of the last meeting were
because it floated. Well, us being kids that liked to
accepted. 3. Arising from the minutes of the last
disprove their Mom we promptly buried the bar of
meeting. The secretary reported that he is
soap in the sand and guess what! It doesn’t float
awaiting a reply regarding the possibility that the
when it’s under the sand and we lost it. Mom sure
senior class prepare breakfast on an ongoing basis
wasn’t happy with us because we hadn’t been
at our monthly meeting. 4. Treasurer’s Report In
scrubbed down yet. We thought it was so funny
the absence of the treasurer, the secretary
and a great joke on Mom.
reported that the income from the auction was
$2163. Hugh Groot has accepted the position as I asked a friend about her memories of Sand Beach
treasurer. 5. AIMS auction. Hugh Jenney reported and she talked of jumping in the back of the truck
on the successful conclusion of the AIMS Labour and heading down to the beach to go swimming.
Day auction. 6. Wooly Bully Race. Bill Barrett Also there is the sad story of a young boy drowning
reported that as a result of the race $500 had been on the sand bar that goes across to Nut Island.
raised for activities at the school 7. Member’s list,
Joyce Glenn and I camped on the beach when we
website. Bill Barrett reported that the list of
were in our young teens. Laurie Kilpatrick camped
members has been updated and that the website
with me too and Gay Eves. I had a small plastic
will be updated. 8. AIMS meeting chair. Members
record player that had batteries in it and I would
of the steering committee will take turns to chair
take that to the beach and play my favourite record
the next three meetings: Bill Barrett in October,
at that time which was Paul Simon and Art
Larry Jensen in November and Dave Pickering in
Garfunkle. Oh man, what is the name of that
December. 9.Transportation committee. David
group? They sang Scarborough Fair and lots of
Pickering reported that there had been one request
other great songs in beautiful harmony. I have
for assistance. 10. New Loyalist Township CAO.
such great memories of the Beach. Taking friends
Various members reported on their interaction
and relatives there to go swimming.
with the new CAO. He is very much in favour of the
flower baskets and suggested an update of the
If you have any memories of Sand Beach email me
garden in front of the Neilson Store. There was a
at [email protected] and …oh…Anthony just
discussion of AIMS cooperating with the Township
told me the group was called, “Simon and
on such a project with the Township covering the
Garfunkle”. I bet you knew that.
cost and AIMS supplying the manpower. Ross
Haines and Dayle Gowan volunteered to write an
application to the Township and John Harrison,
Hugh Jenney and Anders Bennick agreed to supply
the necessary muscle power for the project.
11.Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at
~9:45am *****
PAGE 8
AUDREY SANGER LOVES CYCLING ON is Kirk Dunn). The name Dun or Dunn is the
basis of many other names like Dunlop,
AMHERST ISLAND
Dunsmuir, Duncan, Duncannon, Dunston etc. But

-Judy Bierma
the Dunns belong to no Scottish clan and have no
tartan. The clans are all highlanders and the
Audrey Sanger is a cyclist from Kingston who had
Dunns are lowlanders.
been bicycling on Amherst Island many years. This
Among other things, Deirdre told me that the
year she cycled over 200 km. on the Island. It took
family patriarch, back in 1750, was Samuel Dunn,
25 trips over to the Island to accomplish this. Way
a Presbyterian minister. That news amused me
to go Audrey, congratulations to a person that truly
because I vividly remember wanting to be called
appreciates the Island and it’s beauty and loves
“Sam.” People were always asking me about my
cycling.
name, Zander - was it Dutch? Was it German?

What kind of a name is Zander? I had to explain

that my mother, not liking any short form of
Charles or Alexander (the names of my two
grandfathers) like Chuck, Chas, Alex, Sandy, Lex
etc. called me Zander which is simply a short
form of Alexander. This question arose so
frequently that I asked my mother, “Why didn’t
you call me Sam?” The name, Sam, in the light of
my genealogy, would have been very appropriate.
The Dunn clan comes from Scotland and my
family can be traced back to a part of Scotland
called Locheil Cushnie in Aberdeenshire. Many
of the male Dunns went into the ministry of The
Presbyterian Church (the Church of Scotland). At
one time there were seven ministers named Dunn,
all related to one another, in the Kirk, as it was
known. My great uncle, my grandfather and my
father were all Presbyterian ministers.
We knew about another Presbyterian minister
named Dunn in Canada but we never thought we
were related. The Rev. Peter Dunn of St. Paul’s
Presbyterian Church in Hamilton was the
grandfather of Peter and Deirdre. How strange to
*****
look back now and think that in all those years we
IT’S ALL RELATIVE
never made any connection with The Rev. Peter
-Zander of DUNN INN Dunn.
A few years ago I received a phone call and when Peter and Deirdre told me of other relatives and
I answered a voice asked, “Are you Charles we began to make connections. Dr. Peter Dunn, a
Alexander Dunn?” When I confessed that I was, the professor of Social Work at Wilfred Laurier
voice declared, “I am Peter Dunn, your cousin.” University, and Dr. Deirdre Strachan came to visit
I was surprised because I didn’t know I had a us on Amherst Island. They left us with pictures
cousin named Peter Dunn. He explained to me that of Scotland, various churches in Scotland where
his sister, Deirdre (Dunn) Strachan was much into our ancestors had ministered and charts and
genealogy and had discovered that I existed and that names of Dunns both dead and alive to whom we
we were related. He then went on to explain to me were related. They told us stories of their visits to
how we were related which I found very interesting. Scotland and to the family homestead. When their
I struck up a correspondence with Deirdre who father, Charles Dunn, died in Boston we went
shared with me many stories of my family. The there to attend the funeral and met other relatives
name Dunn, Dun or Dunne, means both Brown and who had flown from England and Scotland for the
a hill or fortification. (Our son, Kirk, whose name occasion. In the receptions that
PAGE 9
means Church, incorporated himself by calling his followed we were made to feel we
writing company Churchill - a play on his name, were part of the family.
Kirk Dunn). The name Dun or Dunn is the basis of Since then we have entertained
many other names like Dunlop, Dunsmuir, Duncan, Peter Dunn here on the occasion of
followed we were made to feel we were part of the is currently playing nationally in the energy field,
family. the design and layout of the generating station
Since then we have entertained Peter Dunn here a nd the benefits it will bring to area residents.
on the occasion of our 50th wedding anniversary Construction is due to start at the end of 2014 or
and we have been to his house in Dundas, Ontario. shortly thereafter and the plant should be
Early in September Nance and I drove to operational by 2018. It is currently undergoing an

Harpswell in Maine to visit with Deirdre and her environmental review process and there has
husband. They entertained us royally and Deirdre been one appeal from a n eighbouring resident.
conferred on me some more charts full of names Construction will involve about 600 workers and
and dates of the Dunns and their children. We
there will be about 25 permanent positions once
belong to a big family with members in Canada,
the plant is up and running. He provided
The U.S.A. and Great Britain.
pamphlets about job opportunities.
As we were driving to and from our recent visit
to our relatives in Maine I got to thinking about all After this Mr. Webster (who grew up in
of this. I thought about the fact that I had a much Nappanee and often visited Amherst Island)
bigger family than I imagined. I thought about how answered wide-ranging questions from the floor.
they were unknown to me until recently. I thought
In response to a request about setbacks from
about how they were all interesting people who
residences, it was noted that the plant is not
had stories to tell.
constrained by the same criteria as the Green
I thought to myself that my story of finding my
Energy Act. A request was made for noise
relatives could be a lesson for all of us. The truth is
compliance testing to be carried out on the west
that we’re all related. We may not know that now
end of the island, as there is currently significant
or we may not recognize our relatives when we see
disturbance from the Lennox and Addington
them but the truth is that we are one family under
Generating Station when it is running.
God. Our skin colours, our hair patterns, our
Information was requested about the PM 2.5
languages cannot keep us apart. It is true that many
[particulate matter at 2.5 microns] emissions
of us work very hard at keeping ourselves separate
which worried Oakville and Mississauga
from other people but our families are bigger than
residents.
we know.
Christians belong to one family under God, a
The design of the plant will mean that warm
family that embraces everyone. We will be much
water discharge into the lake will be minimal and
poorer and smaller if we don’t recognize that and
will not cause a change in ice coverage. He
greet everyone we meet as part of our family.
admitted that transmitting power over long
*****
distances is inefficient, entailing loss of energy

but the decision to locate the generator so far
from where it is needed was a political decision
rather than a practical one. In response to a
PUBLIC MEETING ABOUT THE
concern expressed about ever-increasing
NAPANEE GENERATING STATION
electricity costs he does not anticipate a change in

-Liz Harrision the upward trend.
A small but engaged audience attended the There were some technical, regulatory and legal
public meeting about the proposed Nappanee questions, which he could not address but he
Generating Station to be located by the Lennox offered to find the answers and contact the
and Addington Power Station on the Loyalist questioners.
Parkway at County Road 21.
The organizers of the meeting, Judith Harrower
and Liz Harrison, are very grateful to Mr. Webster
Mr. Peter Webster, Community Representative
for taking the time to come and ”meet the
for the proponent TransCanada used a Power
neighbours”. The neighbours who came enjoyed
Point presentation to inform those present about
the projected future needs for electrical
an interesting and informative
production in Ontario, the part that TransCanada
presentation. PAGE 10
is currently playing nationally in the energy field,
the design and layout of the generating station *****
and the benefits it will bring to area residents.
NEWS FROM THE MUSE