On October 28 2017 after an evening of drinking at Shooter’s Bar & Grill in Calabogie, four teenagers, all members of the Renfrew Timberwolves hockey team, got in a car and started to drive home. Tragically a few minutes later their vehicle crashed into a rock face near Burnstown resulting …
Internationally renowned baritone Joshua Hopkins is the brother of Nathalie Warmerdam. She was one of the three women murdered by Basil Borutski in what is regarded as one of Canada’s worst episodes of domestic violence. In the five years since the death of his sister, Hopkins has pursued his wish …
One of the most harrowing events involving substantial loss of life in the province in recent years occurred almost three years ago on Yonge Street in Toronto. On 23rd April 2018, Alek Minassian rented a van and drove it along a sidewalk deliberately striking pedestrians. His actions resulted in the …
At the Madawaska Valley Council meeting held on Feb.19 2019, a recommendation was made by both the Acting Treasurer and the CAO/Clerk that Council revisit the issue of raising revenue by bringing back development charges. Councillor Mark Willmer supported the recommendation, referring to his previous experience with development charges in …
In December 2019 Health Canada published warnings about the dangers of emissions from wood burning stoves under the title “Wood Smoke.” It emphasized that some groups are especially vulnerable, including people with heart or lung problems and children because their respiratory systems are still developing, and they tend to be …
Editorial Regular readers of The Current know that from time to time we report on perceived breaches of the obligations of accountability, transparency and integrity on the part of local government. This reporting has not only been about Madawaska Valley, but also Brudenell Lyndoch & Raglan and North Algona Wilberforce. …
On October 27 the Renfrew County Legal Clinic held its Annual General Meeting. Fittingly, it took place during Access to Justice Week. Clinic Executive Director Amy Scholten reported on the previous year’s business, including the following items. Shown above are examples of social media posts (photos Renfrew County Legal Clinic …
A number of local residents have recently used social media to criticize trades for not returning calls, not keeping appointments, and generally showing disdain toward potential customers. Real estate broker Pat Scott started the ball rolling on October 9th when she posted, “I find it extremely frustrating that our local …
Editorial The setback to the future of the Paul J. Yakabuski Community Centre (PJYCC) caused by the recent rejection of a grant application to help pay for much needed repairs has once again brought into the forefront the issue of the cost/benefit of what has been described as a “White …
For pandemic prisoners who are sports fans and who have been hoping for extended distractions from not just COVID but the horror show that is happening south of our border, there has been very little to cheer about. The Leafs exited the Stanley Cup playoffs at the first opportunity, as …
Acting on a tip, The Current paid a visit to the site of the former Wingle Inn in Latchford Bridge near Palmer Rapids this afternoon. There we found a significant police presence that was apparently engaged in dismantling the cannabis grow-op located there. We counted at least nine marked OPP …
Figures just released by the Renfrew County Real Estate Board (RCREB) show that home sales in the County continue to surge while at the same time setting a new record for the average price. Residential sales activity recorded in Renfrew County totalled 278 units in July. This was a large …
On July 7 Madawaska Valley Council approved the application by Combermere Lodge Limited (CLL) to rezone the Chippawa Shores property from Tourist Commercial to Residential to permit a 44-lot residential plan of subdivision. The condominium development which CLL first presented to MV Council in March 2018 has been subjected to …
There was an elephant in the Zoom when Madawaska Valley Council met remotely on July 7th to consider the Bent Anchor’s application for rezoning to allow for a retail outlet. That elephant was the fact that it had become public knowledge that the retail store would sell cannabis products. This …
June 17th was a Good News / Bad News day for a Palmer Rapids business. At the Brudenell Lyndoch & Raglan (BLR) Council meeting held that day, approval was given for three severances on land on Wingle Road at the site of the former Wingle Inn. (Above: the property in its B&B …
