Polish language short film ready for festival run Filmmaker Adam Benish is no stranger to the Valley. Benish found himself in Madawaska Valley a couple of years ago working on the filming of The Manhattan Project and thinking of his own family, he determined to make a Polish language film …
July 22 was a challenging day for businesses in Barry’s Bay as three statements were issued regarding temporary closure/staff shortages in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) followed by distributing a media release on July 23 warning residents of three new …
Since 2002 residents in the Madawaska Valley and area have benefited from an assisted living facility in the heart of Barry’s Bay beside the Railway Station. Re-christened as Champlain Gardens last year after a change of ownership the residence, formerly known as Water Tower Lodge, deferred its Grand Opening until …
Editorial Canada. According to a federal government website, the name likely comes from the Huron-Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning “village” or “settlement.” We like to think of Canada as a country that’s a mosaic – where everyone’s language, culture, skin colour, ethnicity, is celebrated and allowed to co-exist. Integration, not assimilation. …
Madawaska Valley District High School (MVDHS) students bade farewell to their high school years on June 30 with a virtual graduation ceremony on YouTube. Members of the Class of 2021 celebrated with the usual gowns, mortarboards, speeches, awards and, of course, those baby pictures. But unlike an in-person graduation ceremony, …
Royal Canadian Legion Barry’s Bay Branch 406 serves a territory that reaches Killaloe in the east, Whitney in the west, and Palmer Rapids to the south. The Legion actively supports the community as a whole, not just Canadian Forces veterans, as anyone who has attended the Barry’s Bay Vaccination Clinic …
A demonstration took place on Saturday, June 26 in Barry’s Bay along Opeongo Line (Hwy 60) in front of MPP John Yakabuski’s residence. Siobhan McLeod, one of the dozen or so adult participants, told The Current that it was not a formal group. She said some of the demonstrators and …
For the second time in seven months Brudenell Lyndoch Raglan’s (BLR) Integrity Commissioner, Peggy Young-Lovelace of Expertise for Municipalities (E4m) will be taking Court action in an attempt to remove a BLR Councillor from office. Council was advised of this at a Special Council Meeting on June 16 held in …
In keeping with the policy of Renfrew County and District School Board (RCDSB), Palmer Rapids Public School (PRPS) has flown a PRIDE flag during the month of June. But this year the flag was removed twice since June 4. Jude Kelley, PRPS Principal, told The Current that they replaced the …
The June 2 Council meeting of Brudenell Lyndoch and Raglan Township (BLR) rewarded residential ratepayers with a Zero Percent Municipal Tax Increase in the 2021 budget. The budget included an amount of $150,000 for legal costs (up from $30,000 last year). At the May 19 budget meeting, Acting Clerk-Treasurer Valerie …
Valley residents, some wearing orange as a symbol of reconciliation, gathered across the Valley on the evening of May 31 to commemorate the remains of the 215 children found in a mass grave at Kamloops Residential School. The socially-distanced mourners brought children’s shoes and toys to highlight the grim discovery …
The Barry’s Bay Farmers Market opened for the 2021 season on May 21 at its new location: Royal Canadian Legion, 250 John Street (Hwy 62 and Stafford Street). The Market will be held, rain or shine, every Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. First stop for us, some donuts …
Madawaska Valley Council met a number of times this month, including the Council In Committee meeting on May 4 and the Regular Council meeting on May 18. The 2021 municipal budget presentation originally promised for April was made at the May 18 Regular Council meeting (see separate report). Other matters …
Madawaska Valley Treasurer Amanda Hudder formally presented the 2021 municipal budget at the Council meeting of May 18. She began with the high level impact of the budget, covering tax billing, capital projects and the budget process. The bottom line for taxpayers? The overall tax rate for 2021 will increase …
At a Public Meeting held May 4, Madawaska Valley Township staff and Council responded to multiple communications from residents regarding the proposed development of 1048a-b Mill Street in Combermere by new owners Craig and Jude Kelley. A significant number of objections to redevelopment of the former St. Paul’s Church related …
