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FALL HAS ARRIVEDIt was a day for patients,

not politics, but the realityof impending bed closuresat the Brockvil le MentalHealth Centre (BMHC) wasnever far away as the facilityheld its Country Harvest FallFair yesterday.

Page A3

FILM TRADITIONIn what’s becoming a

September tradition, FilmBrockville will raise the cur-tain on its fall season with afundraising screening tobenefit the Alzheimer Soci-ety of Leeds and Grenville.

Page A4

IRONWOMANShe was nervous and

excited and she survived towant to do it again. Prescottnative Jenn Howitt finishedfourth in her age category inher first-ever IronmanCanada in British Columbiaon the weekend.

Page B1

recorder

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Serving Brockville and the region since 1821 • Year 189 No. 171 20 pages

ONLINE

CLOSURE: Brighter future amidst darker days ahead

RONALD ZAJAC

Staff Writer

Taylor Closs and Ryan Ada-Lacroix are looking ahead withoptimism, despite a few bumpsin the immediate future.

The pair, both inpatients atthe Brockville Mental HealthCentre (BMHC), are engaged. Aspatients and staff at the formerBrockville Psychiatric Hospitalenjoyed a perfect day Tuesdayfor their annual Country HarvestFall Fair, Closs proudly displayedher ring and noted the big daywill be June 21, 2011.

By then, however, the couplewill be living elsewhere.

“I’m looking at going to agroup home in Ottawa becausemy part of the hospital is closingdown,” said Closs, 20, who livesat the BMHC’s rehab unit.

The Royal Ottawa Health CareGroup announced in June thatthe BMHC will close its transi-tional care unit by March 2011,taking the equivalent of 136.5full-time jobs out of the commu-nity.

The 64 transitional treatmentbeds include 24 for dual diagno-sis (patients who suffer bothfrom a developmental delay anda psychiatric disorder) and 20

each for rehabilitation and psy-chogeriatric services.

Brockville Mayor David Hen-derson noted yesterday theimpending closure cast a

shadow over an otherwise funday on the BMHC grounds. (Seerelated story on page A3.)

Closs, who is from Ottawa, isone of 56 patients still housed in

those three transitional careunits, people whom RoyalOttawa hopes to move into thecommunity, or to other facilitiesin Kingston or the Ottawa area,by March of 2011.

Ada-Lacroix, 24, of Almonte, isin the BMHC’s forensic unit,which is expected to keep oper-ating after the transitional ser-vices are gone, although he ishoping to be discharged longbefore his wedding day.

The happy couple are opti-mistic things will work out forthem despite any disruptions inthe months ahead. And on Tues-day, Taylor and Ryan werefocused entirely on enjoying thefall fair.

“It’s not often that you get togo to a hospital and they have afun fair like this,” said Closs.

BMHC patient Loretta Hor-bick spoke on behalf of the otherpatients as the day-long fairkicked off around the lunchhour, thanking staff for organiz-ing the event.

Organizer Kevin Johnston, arecreational therapist at BMHC’sElmgrove unit, said the fairbegan five years ago, inspired byhis childhood on a farm.

Inpatients looking further afield for new homes

RONALD ZAJAC The Recorder and Times

Ryan Ada-Lacroix, left, and Taylor Closs, both inpatients at theBrockville Mental Health Centre, plan to tie the knot in June 2011.

NICK GARDINER The Recorder and TimesDaycare children at the Brockville YMCA prepare to help serve a spaghetti dinner Tuesday cele-brating the facility's first Giving Garden, a project suggested by the Brockberry Cafe. Picturedchildren are, in front from left, Camryn Bos and Lucas Haystead, and back from left, Faith Chap-lin, Courtney Orr, Jack Chaplin and Amelia Foley. In the rear are YMCA executive director SuelingChing, Brockberry chef Seth O'Hara and cafe staff Jennifer Robinson. See story on page A3

COMMUNITY: A living, giving garden

TERRI SAUNDERS

Sun Media

A Merrickville woman whodied trying to save a drowningteenager more than two yearsago has been honoured by thegovernor general.

Roxanne Lalonde, 32, jumpedinto the Rideau River on April21, 2007, in an attempt to rescue15-year-old Grant Gallipeaufrom a fast-moving current nearthe Andrewsville Bridge.

The leading seaman and 12-year veteran of the Canadian

navy could not rescue the boy.Two weeks ago, Lalonde’s

mother received a letter fromGov. Gen. Michaelle Jean sayingher daughter had been awardedthe Medal of Bravery, an honourthat recognizes acts of bravery inhazardous circumstances.

“I was very proud,” saidRiemke Bles. “It’s hard to believeit’s been two years since thishappened. It doesn’t seem likethat long ago.”

Gallipeau’s body was founddownriver from the bridge lessthan an hour after Lalonde

jumped in after him. Paramedicsplucked Lalonde from the riverafter the failed attempt. She diedin hospital.

“She was just doing what shewas trained to do,” said Bles.“Nobody was surprised she didwhat she did.”

The award will be presented ata formal ceremony at RideauHall at a later date.

“Without hesitation, shejumped in the icy waters tosearch for him, but was suddenlycaught up by the strong under-tow and pulled towards the

middle of the river,” reads thecitation. “Others on shore triedto throw a lifeline to her, but thestrong current quickly carriedher downstream. Sadly, neitherthe boy nor Leading SeamanLalonde survived.”

Lalonde has received otherhonours since her death, includ-ing the Commissioner’s Citationfor Bravery awarded to her bythe OPP in September 2007.

“These awards keep hermemory alive,” said Bles. “Insome ways, it’s like she’s stillhere.”

Posthumous honour for LalondeHONOUR: Medal of BraverySTEVENSON TRIAL

JACK WALKER

Staff Writer

A 37-year-old Mallorytownman accused of killing hisestranged wife professed hisinnocence shortly after his arrestfor the murder.

“Who?” Andrew Stevensonasked OPP Constable Rob Sin-clair when he advised theaccused he was being arrestedfor the murder.

“Your wife,” replied Sinclair.“Is she OK?” asked Stevenson.“I don’t know,” answered the

officer.Sinclair told Stevenson’s first-

degree murder trial Tuesday theaccused was extremely upset,hyperventilating, gagging andcrying after his arrest at hismother’s residence at 177 Rock-field Road, near Mallorytown onDecember 23, 2006.

Two hours earlier, StefanieStevenson was felled by a shot-gun blast to the right side of herhead in the driveway of herMacOdrum Drive residence inBrockville. The 33-year-oldmother of two was just gettinginto her van to drive to theBrockville General Hospital forher night shift on the maternityward when she was shot.

Sinclair said he twice readStevenson his rights, includinghis right to call a lawyer.

“I haven’t done anythingwrong,” Stevenson responded. “Idon’t need a lawyer.”

Sinclair testified he andSergeant Glen King were origi-nally dispatched to Stevenson’sresidence at 117 Mountain Road,RR 1 Mallorytown.

Accusedappearedshocked,upset

see BMHC | Page A2see TRIAL | Page A2

MICHAEL JIGGINS

Staff Writer

City council’s economic devel-opment and planning commit-tee huddled behind closed doorsTuesday night to learn detailsabout a plan to revive the mori-bund Moorings condominiumproject.

In a brief discussion duringthe open session of yesterday’smeeting, the committee heard anew ownership group has takenpossession through a power-of-sale process and is seeking an18-month extension on theexisting site plan agreement.

Director of planning MaureenPascoe Merkley said that agree-ment between the city and theprevious owner, BrockvilleMoorings Corp., is set to expireSept. 24 of this year.

The identity of the ownershipgroup was not disclosed, butMayor David Henderson toldThe Recorder and Times he hasmet with one of the principals,

who he said lives in the Kingstonarea.

“They gave me the impressionthat they are willing to go aheadwith the site remediation thisfall,” said the mayor.

Heading into last night’sclosed session, Henderson said“it’s like Missouri, let’s see it”when it comes to whether thenew owners actually develop theproperty.

However, he stressed he sup-ports extending the site planagreement because it offers thebest chance for city residents tosee the property cleaned up.

Work on the site’s environ-mental cleanup stopped sud-denly last fall when the previousowners’ plans foundered onfinancial difficulty.

Since then, the fenced-inproperty at 119 Water Streetadjacent to the BrockvilleMuseum has become anincreasing source of complaints.

Mooringsafloat?

DEVELOPMENT: Signs of life for riverfront property

see MOORINGS | Page A2

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