The Sydenham Current has compiled our list of the Top 10 stories of 2015.
With the hundreds of stories we’ve done throughout the year, it was tough to trim it down. Let us know what you think of the stories our staff chose as the Top 10. Enjoy!
Some of the criteria we took into consideration while making our list, includes:
– Community impact
– Website traffic
– Social media reach and insights
– Community feedback (letters, comments, e-mails, phone calls)
This story is sponsored by Wallaceburg Hometown Bingo!
#10 – Jordan Durston
This 21-year-old Wallaceburg athlete couldn’t stay out of the headlines in 2015.
To start things off, Jordan Durston was recording points for the Dresden Kings in the Great Lakes Junior ‘C’ Hockey League and even helped them upset the Lakeshore Canadiens in the playoffs.
From there Durston traded his hockey stick for a lacrosse stick, and really the rest is history. Durston ended up winning his second straight Minto Cup with the Six Nations Arrows before getting drafted by the Vancouver Stealth of the National Lacrosse League.
Not satisfied with just being drafted, Durston ended up cracking the roster with the Stealth and is poised to begin his professional lacrosse career in the early part of 2016.
Durston was also named the athlete of the year by the Wallaceburg Sports Hall of Fame.
#9 – Tecumseh statue on Walpole Island
Walpole Island First Nation celebrated the installation of a statue of Tecumseh on top of their Veterans’ monument, during a ceremony in October.
Dan Miskokomon, Chief of Bkejwanong First Nation, said the soldiers group on Walpole Island wanted to complete the monument with a Tecumseh statue over 80 years ago.
“It brings closure… our veterans are happy,” Miskokomon said. “My great grandfather was involved, my grandfather, my father. It was first the soldiers club, now the Heritage group has finalized it. Veterans are smiling… it’s a celebration.”
Georgina Toulouse Bebamikawe, a First Nation sculptor from Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve in northern Ontario was commissioned to design the Tecumseh statue.
Bebamikawe said she is glad the entire community can finally see the statue.
“It’s a lot of work and it’s a lot of stress off my shoulders now so that everybody is enjoying it,” she said.
“I’ts very exciting because I put my symbology up top of the statue. I have my motif design that I use. It’s on his pouch over there. Even if the plaque isn’t always there, but it’s up there and I can just pass that down to my children and grandchildren.”
#8 – New owner and plan for D.A. Gordon
A Toronto man is hoping to turn his dream of owning and operating a private school into a reality, after purchasing the former D.A. Gordon Public School in Wallaceburg.
Alexei Roudakov, originally from Russia, told the Sydenham Current his long-term plan is to turn the closed down school into a private daycare, school and college facility.
“I’m dreaming of having my own school,” he said. “I want a daycare, a school and a college to go there. That is the way I see this property. I cannot tell at this point which part is going to start faster than the other. It is a lot of circumstances and components that have to show up first.”
Roudakov added: “It’s a long-term project. I’m not expecting anything in a week or two or fast, but this is my life project. That is the way I’m approaching it. I don’t know if it is going to work or not, but I’m trying to be optimistic in this case. I’m looking to contribute to my new community.”
#7 – Attack in Wallaceburg
The investigation is still on-going in Wallaceburg after unknown suspects entered an Elgin Street home and viciously attacked a woman around 1:45 a.m. on October 19.
#6 – Davis family moves into new Habitat For Humanity home
The Davis family was all smiles on Saturday as they were handed keys to their brand new Forhan Street home in Wallaceburg, built with the help of Habitat for Humanity Chatham-Kent.
Dozens of people joined Becca and Ryan Davis, along with their three children, Isaac, 8, April, 7, and Olive, 2, for the key turning ceremony.
Becca told the Sydenham Current she was overwhelmed with joy.
“It’s so exciting,” she said. “Like I said earlier, I am not very often at a loss of words. I am a pretty chatty girl, but this is a pretty overwhelming experience. It’s really full of joy. Lots of excitement.”
#5 – Community rallies for Brayden Fields
The community had rallied in support of a Wallaceburg teen, who was sent to London hospital following a single-vehicle crash between Wallaceburg and Dresden on November 21.
Brayden Fields, 17, suffered life-threatening injuries when the van he was driving went off the road and struck a tree.
In support of Brayden and his family, the community has stepped up to the plate to help.
The community raised over $10,000 during a GoFundMe campaign and Brayden’s fellow WDSS students raised over $2,000 at a barbecue and raffle fundraiser at the school.
Brayden remains in hospital in London.
#4 – Splash pad project in Wallaceburg
What started as a concern from a Wallaceburg resident about water flowing at the Jaycee Park turtle, and a subsequent poll question on the Sydenham Current, a new community project was born.
Among the many comments and feedback on the topic, Wallaceburg’s Chris Young expressed his interest and willingness to spearhead a project to bring a splash pad to the Wallaceburg community.
Young proceeded to look into the possibility. And eventually a committee was born and council support was given.
The committee has set an ambitious goal of July 2016 to have the project completed at Colwell Park and are looking to raise $200,000 to complete it.
#3 – Blue garbage totes in Wallaceburg
At the beginning March, The Municipality of Chatham-Kent issued a statement regarding ‘toter carts’ being distributed in Wallaceburg in the coming weeks.
“As there have been some questions, please note that Progressive Waste Systems (PWS) is delivering ‘toter carts’ to residential properties receiving curbside garbage collection in the Community of Wallaceburg.”
The delivery is reportedly part of a 45-day pilot project in Wallaceburg and Tilbury.
After the time period is up, anyone who chooses to keep the bins will be billed $75.
Progressive Waste Solutions told the Sydenham Current they were excited about the new program.
After these announcements, many residents of Wallaceburg were not too impressed:
Letter: New garbage totes = Privatized taxation
Letter: Please take away ‘big blue’
When the 45-day pilot project was completed, Progressive Waste Solutions reconsidered their original plan, and provided the totes to Wallaceburg residents free-of-charge.
The program and blue totes have since been rolled out across all of Chatham-Kent.
#2 – Stolen trucks in Wallaceburg
A rash of vehicle thefts stung the Wallaceburg area from August to November.
The multiple incidents left many truck owners in the Wallaceburg community frustrated and the police looking for clues.
Two suspects were brought into custody in the case after a high speed chase on November 3.
During a press conference held in the former council chambers at the Wallaceburg Municipal Centre on December 22, Chief Gary Conn of the Chatham-Kent Police Service outlined details of the case.
“Earlier this year, the Chatham-Kent Police Service began seeing an increase in vehicle thefts from the Wallaceburg area,” Conn said. “It quickly became apparent that Chev and GMC trucks were being targeted. As each truck was stolen, our concern for public safety escalated.”
Conn added: “Between August and November, 18 trucks were stolen. 17 of them were recovered in various areas in and outside Chatham-Kent. There were also seven attempt theft of trucks.”
Conn said the motives behind the rash of thefts in Wallaceburg, was monetary.
“They were taking the vehicles and taking them to two locations outside of Chatham-Kent, which in essence were acting as chop shops. They were selling the pieces from the stolen vehicles. For example, the tires, the rims, even the air bags. They obtained a substantial amount for the airbags as well.”
An 18-year-old Munsee-Delaware First Nation man and a 16-year-old Chippewas of the Thames First Nation youth are in custody and face dozens of charges. Read more details here.
A day after the Chatham-Kent Police Service held their press conference in Wallaceburg, the OPP laid additional charges in the case and issued a warrant for a third suspect.
The accused all face future court datess.
#1 – Walpole Island youth leads Trudeau into ceremony
A Walpole Island youth was a part of history, as he led Justin Trudeau into Rideau Hall to be sworn in as Canada’s new Prime Minister.
Theland Kicknosway, 12, was picked to sing and drum a welcome song for the historic event, which led the procession for Trudeau, along with Trudeau’s family and his new cabinet ministers.
“I was trying to remind myself… don’t trip, don’t trip, don’t trip,” Kicknosway told the Sydenham Current. “Remember the song, but don’t trip. That is basically what went into my head at that point. There was a close call, I stubbed my foot on something but I didn’t want to be in the news headlines ’12-year-old boy falls during ceremony.’
Kicknosway, who lives in Ottawa with family, is a member of Walpole Island First Nation. His father Vincent is from Walpole, and many of his relatives still reside on the Bkejwanong Territory.
Kicknosway said he had the chance to meet Trudeau right before the ceremony.
“I talked with him for a couple of minutes before we actually went in, but we had to leave. There were a lot of people and lots of security too,” he said.
“He introduced himself and introduced me to his wife and his two sons and daughter. I said I was going to be singing a song and he wished me luck and I wished him luck too.”
Honourable mentions:
– Dresden Agricultural Society money goes ‘missing’
– ServiceOntario options remaining in Dresden
– Surprise ‘home delivery’ outside of Dresden
– Eagle soars over Walpole Island protest
– Kindergarten student left alone at wrong bus stop
– Frustration over parcel delivery wait
– ‘Let Kids Be Kids’ signs stolen in Wallaceburg
