Louise Sproule

Position: 
Publisher and Editor
Photo
Review publisher Louise Sproule has owned The Review since 1992. Louise writes the editorial each week, covers Champlain Township council meetings and water and environmental issues, in addition to regular news. Louise is a two-time winner of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association “Best Local Editorial” award in the 10,000-and-under circulation category.

She is a member of the Higginson Tower Restoration Committee; a project which is being funded by the Champlain Time Capsule. She is also an involved member of the Vankleek Hill Business and Merchant Association, organizing Trash and Treasure (the town-wide yard sale in Vankleek Hill which occurs each year on the first Saturday of June) and the Victorian Home and Garden Tour, which takes place the third Saturday in June.

She loves local history and her roots in Vankleek Hill go back to Simeon VanKleek, the town’s first settler.
Email: 
lsproule@thereview.ca

Stories from Louise Sproule

Does destruction make sense to you?
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Explaining why it doesn't make sense to save all or at least some of the Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute theatre doesn't make sense once you get into it.
Try it.
It's too expensive to save the theatre. Why? Where are the numbers?
Could the theatre be moved? No one has answered that one.  Is there vacant land where the theatre would be welcome?
Could the theatre be incorporated into the existing school? No, because there are infrastructure systems like water, sewage and electricity. Too complicated . . . or too little interest to even consider the notion?
So...listen to this:
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Listen : I'm not going to tell you this again. As if. We always think that what we have to say is important enough to repeat. If not once, then twice.
This past week, I had a complaint and took it to someone I trust. He passed it on to the person who could address my complaint; this person called me and asked if I had anything more to add. Being listened to by both of these busy people meant a lot to me, I realized. And even though I want something done, being listened to by them at least makes me feel that they took what I said to heart.
A common aim: the gold standard for involvement
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Our country cheered loudly on Sunday. As the minutes ticked down during the Canada vs. U.S. hockey game, you could say that everyone was on the same team.
In these busy times, getting everyone's attention long enough to get everyone on the same team is a challenge. Fractured views, tough economic times, no time to give to one's family, one's community, or the cause of the moment is common.
But we all know that if times got really tough, we'd hang together. Take the ice storm of  '98. Take threats to our community, our families, our schools, our country.
Looking back to see the future
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Carrying the weight of the world can mean that we cannot find a way to move forward. Those are general terms, but often, at the beginning of a task, all we can see is the mountain of work instead of the beautiful scenery at the other side of a job well done.  I know that is how it is for me.
What do we know about crime and policing?
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
The province with the highest crime rate is Saskatchewan. Ontario and Quebec have the lowest crime rates. In Canada, Quebec City is the safest city in which to live; Regina has the highest crime rate.
Chasing down crime news is not our favourite job and although city media is criticized for using crime stories to sell papers, small town community newspapers have to look elsewhere for hot stories.
Do you know what's in your wallet? You should.
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, February 23, 2010

In a cruel twist, the recent Heart and Stroke Bonspiel ended in heartache for its main organizer, Heather Kirby. Kirby's wallet was stolen some time during the fundraiser, which took place at the Vankleek Hill Curling Club on February 14.

Leaders ignoring their duty to citizens
Louise Sproule
Monday, February 22, 2010
We depend on our leaders. And while there are many community leaders among us, none are so prominent as our elected municipal councillors. Municipal elected representatives are given the opportunity to set policies which govern our growth, our quality of life, the priority of the various services offered within our municipality and our image as a municipality.
The load we carry with us
Louise Sproule
Monday, February 22, 2010
During the  past few weeks, I've been talking to many of the business owners in our town, encouraging them to attend a February 24 meeting where elections and a mini-workshop will take place - both of which relate to our town's future:  a scary and monolithic prospect, if ever there was one.
Dealing with each other as business owners is a bit of a test at the best of times. As each other's customers, we all want to please. But as independent thinkers, we need to express ourselves and not get too personal.
Photo gallery: Haiti fundraiser at Le Sommet
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, February 16, 2010

 

 

More than 500 people attended a heartwarming fundraising concert for Haiti at Le Sommet high school in Hawkesbury last week. The concert raised $4,596.25, which translates into $9,192.50 with matching funds from the federal government. The proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross.

Movies, mags and books
Louise Sproule
Friday, February 12, 2010

I was just talking to the head librarian in Vankleek Hill this week and she reminded me that the library has lots of great videos available for week-long loan-out, plus there are lots of magazines available for you to borrow.
If you are planning renovation or need inspiration or simply cannot afford to buy all the magazines you would like to read, remember that wherever you live, your municipality's library probably is purchasing a lot of magazines, books and other items to make them available to you.

Freedom. What is it good for?
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Watching Steve McQueen shelter his distraught wife's face from the scene of a grisly murder in the 1968 movie called, "Bullitt", made me grimace with disgust. Throughout the movie I had noticed the difference in the portrayal of women, compared to today, 42 years later.  Women were indeed treated as the weaker sex.
I feel like I am entering into "old fogey" territory when I remember a time when it was unusual for a woman to have a full-blown powerhouse career outside of the home - it was a time when prepared food was made by your mom.
A healthy expansion for the hospital
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
This week's story about the updated plans for the Hawkesbury and District General Hospital expansion contains surprising news. The $21-million expansion announced a few years ago has become a $93-million redevelopment project, set to overhaul the existing facility, which is now 25 years old.
The hospital, originally built to see around 15,000 patients per year, is now attempting to serve more than 32,000 patients per year. The updated plans would see the hospital double in size, if the project is approved by the provincial ministry of health and long-term care.
OPP, SQ and Mirabel police make six arrests; suspects tied to Vankleek Hill home invasion
Justin Bromberg
Louise Sproule
Monday, February 8, 2010

UPDATED: Monday, February 8, 1 p.m.

The Sûreté du Québec (SQ), Mirabel police and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) executed search warrants in Mirabel, Brownsburg-Chatham and Hawkesbury on Wednesday, February 3 in relation to several criminal offences that occurred between November 26, 2009 and January 6, 2010, including armed robberies, home invasions and violent break and enters.

One of the suspects charged this week is the manager of a Hawkesbury bank where one such robbery occurred, two days before Christmas.

High-speed: Get your request in now
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Our reporting on the Prescott-Russell broadband project may have left something to be desired: a louder call for your participation.
What hasn't been but should have been the lead of almost every story is this: call now to be sure that you are on a waiting list for high-speed and tell your neighbours to do the same.
The July 2009 funding announcement which included $55 million from each of the federal and provincial governments has just been topped up by another $190,000 toward the completion of the request for proposal for the multi-million dollar project.
Leaving the sidelines
Louise Sproule
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Annual general meetings are usually pretty predictable and - yes I'll say it - sometimes even boring, but this definitely wasn't the case at the recent such gathering of our local businesspeople. Tensions at this particular meeting were somewhat higher than normal since the advertised item on the agenda was the contemplation of a resolution proposing the dissolution of our association.
Good beef: Another best-kept secret
Louise Sproule
Monday, February 1, 2010
If you haven't tried the beef from the Amstutz beef operation near Lancaster, you don't know what you're missing. Actually, you do know what you're missing. It's what beef tasted like when you were a kid: just the beef. I know it's not really in vogue to enjoy meat, but Peter Amstutz grows grass-fed beef and you can taste the difference and no antiobiotics, either, except in extenuating circumstances. You can find Peter selling stewing beef, roasts, steaks and ground beef every Saturday at the Vankleek Hill Farmers Market.
The business of increasing blue box efficiency
Louise Sproule
Wednesday, January 27, 2010

If you live in Hawkesbury, East Hawkesbury or Champlain, the cost of recycling is more than three times higher than some neighbouring municipalities.

You don't have to wonder why. It's simple. In these three municipalities, there is not enough recyclable material collected to enable effectiveness and efficiency of the recycling program. Consistent annual increases of about 7.8 per cent between 2002 and 2007, followed by a 12.9 per cent increase in 2008 are expected to lead to a three per cent decrease in recyclables collected in 2009.

Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full
Louise Sproule
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
It's one of two things; it's either the responsibility of what to do with all the stuff or the endless possibilities of what could be done with it that drives me crazy. It makes me feel that I have to take action. There is something taxing about receiving things that someone no longer wants.  And the worst part is when that something was valued by someone in the past and he or she is -- handing it off to me.
Your vote counts!
Louise Sproule
Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Spent time this week thinking about the great service at so many businesses and how there are many businesses trying new things. If you are in Vankleek Hill on Wednesdays, try something different for lunch at Limes Cafe (right across from Review offices). Suree's Thai lunch was great today: curried beef, rice and stir-fried greens and vegetables, preceded by a delicious soup. Our Wednesday Thai lunch has become something that at least a few of our staff do each week.

Register for Vankleek Hill Carnival Talent Contest by Jan. 24
Louise Sproule
Monday, January 18, 2010
The Vankleek Hill winter carnival kicks off this weekend, but there is still lots of time to register for the carnival talent show, which takes place on Sunday, January 31 at 2 p.m. Performers of all ages are invited to participate in one of the following three categories: dance, vocal and variety.