Thursday Apr. 23, 2020
 
Search


e-Edition
June 26, 2025

e-Edition
26 juin 2025


 

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

 

 


Upcoming events


CANADA DAY AT THE LEGION – Canadian Legion Branch 632 on Taylor Creek Road will be hosting a fun-filled day of family-friendly activities with music and food starting at 11 am. FREE FOR EVERYONE

CANADA DAY ON PETRIE ISLAND featuring a Kids Zone, adult beverage tent, live music, food, main stage entertainment, a giant birthday cake at 1 pm. and a spectacular fireworks display at 10 pm. For more information visit canadadayorleans.ca.

ORLEANS FARMERS MARKET every Thursday from 11 am to 4 pm in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Centre on Tenth Line Road. Shop the freshest seasonal produce, meat and dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts and more while getting to know the folks who grew and made it.

DJ NIGHT at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. (near the McDonalds) from 7-10 p.m. to 6 p.m. Join us and our roster of DJs every Thursday, and jumpstart your weekend fun, a day ahead!

CUMBERLAND FARMERS MARKET from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the R.J. Kennedy Arena in Cumberland Village with 85 local farmers and vendors ready to showcase their freshest produce, handmade goods, and unique finds! FREE ADMISSION

STRAY DOG BREWING COMPANY presents Crroked Creek live and in concert in their taproom. From Montreal, Crooked Creek effortlessly blends bluegrass and country music genres. Tickets $15 available at straydogbrewing.ca. The Stray Dog Brewing Company is located at 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park.

 

 


 


Decision on filling Cumberland city council seat to be made on Wednesday

Mar. 23, 2020

When city council meets this Wednesday, one of their first orders of business will be to decide how to fill the Cumberland Ward seat left vacant by Stephen Blais who resigned earlier this month after winning the provincial by-election in Orléans.

According to the Ontario Municipal Act, the councillors have two options: they can either call a by-election which must be held within 60 days, or they can appoint someone to fill the seat through an application process.

With the City caught up in the global COVID-19 pandemic, a by-election is almost certainly out of the question. That leaves filling the seat by appointment.

The appointment process is not unlike the hiring process for job placement. Anyone can apply for the job which pays $105,627.96 a year. Council must first establish a sub-committee whose job it will be to vet the applications and create a shortlist of two or three candidates. The entire city council must then pick one of the candidates to fill the seat. They can do so after having the candidates appear before them, or they can make their decision without hearing from them at all.

It’s by far the most undemocratic way to fill a political seat because the residents of Cumberland will have absolutely no say in the matter and will not have a say until the next municipal election in 2020. That’s because of a clause in the Ontario Municipal Act which states, “A person appointed or elected to fill a vacancy… shall hold office for the remainder of the term of the person he or she replaced."

The clause appears pretty absolute. But these are extraordinary times. According to a survey on the Facebook page, Navan Helping Hands, when presented with the option of either appointing someone temporarily until a by-election can be held, or appointing someone for the remainder of the term, a vast majority of the respondents favoured a temporary appointment. Unfortunately, the Municipal Act does not allow for a temporary appointment.

So, what to do. The question will no doubt be put to City Solicitor Rick O’Connor. If he goes by the book, he will say that the appointee must serve the remainder of the term.

Given the current situation, the city could pass a motion directing O’Connor to consult with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs on whether or not they could make a temporary appointment until after the COVID-19 threat passes. The motion could contain wording to the effect that if the province says “no”, the appointment process could proceed to prevent any delays.

But if the province allows for a temporary appointment, council could proceed with the process with one caveat – whoever is appointed cannot run in the by-election.  Doing so would give the person a distinct advantage against any rivals and should not be permitted.

Whatever council decides, you can bet the anyone interested in replacing Blais is already updating their resumes, if they haven’t already.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

 

 
Entertainment

  Sports


School of Theatre artistic director passes the torch after 20 years

Ongoing pandemic fails to slow down local graffiti artist

Shenkman Arts Centre unveils 2021-2022 lineup


East end athletes win nine medals at OFSAA track and field championships

Louis-Riel wins surprising gold medal in 4x400 relay at OFSAA championships

Bevy of east end track and field athletes qualify for OFSAA provincial championships

 

Commons Corner


 

Queen's Park Corner


 

Local business

  Opinion

 


DYNAMIC FOOT CARE CLINIC: The first step to pain free feet

 

LOUISE CARDINAL CONCEPT: Interior design consultant

 

BLACKBURN SHOPPES DENTAL CENTRE: Committed to providing a positive dental experience

 

 

 

WALTER ROBINSON: End of pandemic brings new and welcome questions/challenges

 

WALTER ROBINSON: An early primer to the fall federal election

 

Doug Feltmate:COVID-19 pandemic the final straw for troubled industry

Sections
  Services
Contact information


www.orleansstar.ca
745 Farmbrook Cres.
Orléans, Ontario K4A 2C1
Phone: 613-447-2829
E-mail: info@orleansstar.ca

 

OrleansOnline.ca © 2001-2023 Sherwin Publishing