Lianne Lahaie joined The Review news staff in December 2009. Lianne prepared a brief, first-person biography to tell us about herself.
When it comes to being a small-town girl, I'm about as small town as they come.
I was born in a small town, raised in a small town and, for the past 10 years, I've dedicated my life to covering the stories and events that matter most to people in small towns.
I was born and raised in Smiths Falls, Ontario and attended high school in nearby Perth, Ontario. I left my hometown in 1998 when I headed off to the "big city" (Ottawa) to pursue my passion for the written word at Algonquin College.
Two years later, armed with a Print-Journalism diploma and itching to set my notepad on fire with hot issues, I got my first job at a small newspaper in Carleton Place, Ontario. Four years later, I moved to the Perth Courier, which, at the time, was one of the few remaining independent newspapers.
In 2006, I was given an offer I couldn't refuse and moved to the Record News/EMC. My time there was cut short when my husband and I found out I was expecting my first child - a baby boy - who was born on November 21, 2008.
I retired my camera, notepad and roving reporter lifestyle to spend a year giving my undivided attention to my baby boy. My husband and I moved from Ottawa to Plantagenet because we were growing wary of life in the big city and wanted to raise our son in a quiet, rural area.
Though I was quite happy to stay at home with my family, I did find myself longing for the good ol' days of tight deadlines, breaking news and last minute assignments. The newsroom was calling to me, begging me to come back, and thanks to The Review, I got my chance.
I can't tell you how happy I am to be reporting again and how excited I am to meet the amazing people who make the communities we cover such great places to live, work and play.
Well, now that I've told you my story, why don't you tell me yours? Feel free to contact me anytime at 613-678-3327, ext. 1017 or by email at llahaie@thereview.ca.
I can't wait to share your stories with the community!
Stories from Lianne Lahaie
The Best Western L'Heritage along County Road 17 just outside Hawkesbury is set for an expansion, following council's approval for the local business to proceed with its plans on Monday, January 30.
Town planner Manon Belle-Isle said owner Raj Patel submitted plans to expand Hawkesbury's only hotel in October 2011. She said he plans to expand the hotel's existing building by 651 square metres.
The Review has learned that the American television show Hawkesbury council voted in favour of spending $24,800 to appear on is nothing more than a high-priced infomercial.
Councillor Johanne Portelance called The Review on Thursday, February 2 to advise that the plans to participate in the project were cancelled.
"Things just didn't seem to add up at all," Portelance told The Review. "I had some questions and brought some information forward to staff and they looked into it more and began to see that this show wasn't what it seemed to be."
Instead of sitting around wishing for spring to come, why not get out and enjoy the winter weather during the annual Champlain Winter Carnival?
This year's event is set to take place from Friday, February 3 to Sunday, February 12 and promises plenty of fun and excitement for the whole family.
The carnival will kick off Friday with the Pond Rocket Classic Tournament beginning at 6 p.m. at the community centre. The chili cook off and judging will take place in the upstairs hall of the community centre at 6:45 p.m.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Hawkesbury council has long been criticized for not giving members of the public enough time to make presentations and ask questions during council meetings.
All of that changed at a council meeting held last year, when council voted in favour of adding a 10-minute question period to the presentation portion of its agenda. The request to consider adding a question period for members of the public came from Councillor Marc Tourangeau.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The dismay of two councillors wasn't enough to stop council from approving an unbudgeted expenditure of $24,800 to give the Town of Hawkesbury five minutes of fame.
At the regular meeting of council held on Monday, January 30, council approved a recommendation to seek $24,800 from the Hawkesbury Industrial Strategic Planning Association for the potential to garner a five-minute spot on the American television show "Inside Financial," which is partially hosted by former football pro Terry Bradshaw.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
These days it seems all levels of government are talking about transparency.
According to the online version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to be transparent is to be “free from pretense or deceit; easily detected or seen through.” Various levels of government are claiming that this is exactly their goal: to adopt a “we have nothing to hide” attitude and provide the public with the information it wants with minimal bureaucratic red tape.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Hawkesbury and the surrounding region has plenty of arts, culture and heritage to share, but if its perception as a "rough and tumble" town - one hit hard by plant closures and high incidents of crime, suicide and mental illness - doesn't change, it will be nearly impossible to share those riches with others.
With bingo revenues on the decline, Long Sault Bingo is hoping the addition of electronic bingo games will not only make its facility more modern, but may help boost revenues for charitable organizations as well.
At the Hawkesbury council meeting held Monday, January 16, clerk Christine Groulx presented a report noting the owner of the local bingo hall is interested in participating in the eBingo Gaming initiative launched by the Ontario Ministry of Lottery and Gaming (OLG).
After feeding, spaying/neutering and caring for the town's growing feral cat population, the Friends of Feral Cats are apparently being left out of the town's plan to deal with the situation.
Members and supporters of the group, which has been actively carrying out its successful program in Hawkesbury since 2009, were shocked to hear the town's plan to manage and deal with its feral/stray cat problem doesn't appear to include them.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Mark and Lisa Henderson are no strangers to tragedy.
As owners of Hillcrest Funeral Home in Vankleek Hill, the Hendersons are often called upon to help local individuals and families deal with the death of a loved one. Because they see death on an almost daily basis, the Hendersons never forget that completing all the necessary arrangements of a funeral service is a task most families face only a few times.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
A few years ago, I was lucky enough to sit and listen to a Mayan elder speak at a gathering on the Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg reservation in Maniwaki.
The elder was teaching us about nature and the endless variety of plants, flowers and trees that can be used to assist with and heal numerous health problems.
Of all the things I learned that day, there is one thing that elder said that still remains with me to this day.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Now that we have some snow and the temperatures are feeling more seasonal, Dalkeith is getting ready to celebrate winter with its Winter Carnival.
The carnival is set to run from Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29.
The event will kick off with open skating from 5 to 6:30 p.m., followed by pick-up hockey from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Four-on-four hockey for those 40 and over will begin at 8 p.m. following by music and dancing with Norm Campeau, who will begin playing country western-style music at 9 p.m.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
It may be small and unassuming at first glance, but there's a reason why the sweat lodge is known for being "one of the most powerful structures in the world."
Michael Looks Twice is a First Nations elder who is the keeper of a sweat lodge on a piece of land located near his home in western Quebec.
He has been a sweat lodge keeper for 20 years and works hard to keep the location of the lodge as secretive as possible.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Bonnie and Fred Cappuccino never wanted a large family.
In fact, they both figured the world was already overcrowded and were quite happy with the two sons they were blessed with.
Although they were always well aware that the world was full of needy children, it's doubtful either of them ever imagined they would end up adopting and essentially raising 19 children from 11 countries in the Far East.
Citing the undermining of voters, a lack of discussion, and a bylaw that was "obviously directly copied" from another municipality, Hawkesbury councillors Johanne Portelance and Michel Thibodeau adamantly shot down a bylaw proposed by Mayor Rene Berthiaume to change the deputy mayor position.
At the meeting held Monday, January 16, council members discussed a bylaw sent to them and clerk Christine Groulx via e-mail for their consideration.
The future of the Ministry of Natural Resources' plan to remediate the contaminated CIP lagoon site is somewhat up in the air right now.
MNR regional engineer Mark Stephen made a presentation to council on Monday, January 16, outlining the progress being made at the site.
"We're doing a lot of work here in Hawkesbury and want to update you on progress made so far," said Stephen, noting the MNR was ready to proceed with its remediation plan in 2010 but was unable to secure funding from the provincial and federal governments.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
After more than a year of waiting, family and friends of Danny Trineer are hoping for some closure this week.
The sentencing hearing for 27-year-old Rodny Wiss Ceasar, of Hawkesbury, will take place at 3 p.m. today, Wednesday, January 18 at the courthouse in L'Orignal.
Ceasar was charged with first-degree murder following an early morning fight outside Déja Vu restaurant and bar in which Trineer, 32, from Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, was fatally stabbed on September 4, 2010.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
D oes anybody hear?
This is a question we find ourselves asking to the tune of the iconic Bruce Cockburn song of the same name. Why, you ask? Because it seems to fit with a rather disturbing trend currently taking place on private and publicly-owned woodlots.
Statistics and research carried out by stewardship councils in Prescott-Russell and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SD&G) have shown that the amount of forest cover we have is dwindling.
Uncollected fines are leaving many cities and municipalities, including those in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR), with deficits that Ontario Transportation Minister Bob Chiarelli said will simply have to be written off as bad debt.
A bylaw coming up for discussion at the regular meeting of council on Monday, January 16 could create some interesting debate around the council table.
The Review has learned that at the request of mayor René Berthiaume, council will be debating a proposed bylaw that seeks to give each member on council the chance to act as deputy mayor.
Clerk Christine Groulx confirmed that the proposed bylaw will be brought forward for discussion on Monday evening and noted it could require an amendment to the existing bylaw appointing a deputy mayor.
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