Angela Youngs has always been fascinated by scents – it was a driving factor in the creation of her soap-making business Ground Soap. The environment is also a passion, and Angela’s soaps are all made from natural ingredients and packaged in batik cotton.

It’s that natural environment-friendly attributes of the entire product line that has led online retailer Ethical Ocean to feature Ground Soap in its online store.

“Ground Soap is one of the best ethical brands in America,” said Chad Hamre, CEO of Ethical Ocean.  “In fact, we have taken a close look at over 3,000 ethical consumer companies and selected Ground Soap as
one of the top 200.”

Ethical Ocean is an e-commerce business “with a conscience” that features close to 4,000 organic, vegan, fairly-traded and eco-friendly products, including fashions, accessories, cosmetics, house wares, sporting goods – and soaps.

“While on a road trip to Montreal, we started talking about how difficult it is for people to buy stuff that they know is good for the world,” said Chad Hamre, CEO of Ethical Ocean. “I had just wrapped up a year living in the UK where the market for ethical products was booming ($56 billion in 2008), but here in North America it was all but non-existent.”

Ethical Ocean was featured on CBC’s Dragon’s Den in 2011. The company has since gone on to raise $500k from Canadian investors and is rapidly growing, creating a marketplace which facilitates the sale and purchase of all things ethical.

“I am really excited to be featured on the Ethical Ocean website, and honoured to be have been selected as one of the of top 200 ethical brands in America,” said Angela Youngs, owner of Ground Soap. “Taking care of our planet and ourselves is a responsibility that nobody can take lightly. All of our soaps are 100% organic and wild harvested. But perhaps more importantly, people love the soaps – which just goes to show you that you can be responsible and have good, clean fun doing it at the same time!”

You can learn more about Ground Soap and Ethical Ocean on their respective websites

·    www.GroundSoap.com
·    www.ethicalocean.com

The section of South Branch Road from McConnell Avenue to Pitt Street will be closed to traffic on Wednesday, February 15th as City crews conduct water service repairs in the area.

The work is slated to begin around 8 am and it is expected to continue through the day.

Motorists are advised to use alternate routes during this period.

The City of Cornwall thanks motorists in advance for their patience and co-operation.

Mix 96.1 & 101.5 The Fox To Give Away A Disney Family Vacation for 4 as they present the “Winterfest Opening Ceremonies” at the Storm Realty Cornwall Winterfest Carnaval 2012 on Saturday, February 18th

“Winterfest Opening Ceremonies” presented by Mix 96.1 and 101.5 The Fox on Saturday February 18th 6PM at the Ed Lumley Arena, Cornwall Civic Complex

Grand Prize package includes: A Disney Family Vacation (Family Trip for 4) – incl. Round Trip Airfare for Four to Orlando, 4 nights accommodations at the Double Tree Hotel, and 4 Disney Three Day Park Hopper Passes!

It’s FREE to register, but you MUST be in attendance at the Opening Ceremonies to win!  Go to www.mymix961.com or www.1015thefox.com and fill out the entry form.  You will be emailed a Winterfest Golden Pass indicating your name and seat numbers.  Simply bring that with you to the Mix 96.1 and 101.5 The Fox Booth at the Civic Complex this Saturday, February 18th from 3-6pm.

Mix 96.1’s Wayne Thompson and Traci Trottier will be broadcasting LIVE from the Civic Complex from 3pm – 6pm this Saturday, February 18th as well, and will help emcee the Opening Ceremonies.

You can also register directly via email, send Name, Age, City and E-mail of each friend or family member that will be in attendance at the “Winterfest Opening Ceremonies” to Winterfest@live.ca .  You MUST be in attendance for a chance to win the Disney Family Vacation courtesy of Mix 96.1 and 101.5 The Fox.

TICKETS ARE FREE!!!

Upon entrance at the “Winterfest Opening Ceremonies”, you will have to enter your “Winterfest Golden Pass” in the “Grand Prize Ballot Box” located at the “Mix 96.1 and 101.5 The Fox Booth”.

Music, Awards, Prizes, Entertainment and a Celebration of Winter and Family – Come join us in the breaking of the Ice!

Please note that registrants under the age of 13 will also have their registered Parent/Guardian named on their “Winterfest Golden Pass”. (Please indicate with registration which parent/Guardian to include)

Please note that all who are registered must be in attendance at the opening ceremonies on February 18th in order to win prizes.

Registration is limited, and on a first come – first serve basis.

Grand Prize provided by Mix 96.1 & 101.5 The Fox – All Registrants will be added to either Mix 96.1's “Club Mix” or 101.5 The Fox's “VIP Club” to receive email news blasts including up-to-date info about the Storm Realty Cornwall Winterfest Carnaval 2012. Please visit www.cornwallwinterfest.com for Festival up-to-date info!

1 + 1 = 20. No, it is not new math, but rather the results of two Cornwall accounting offices merging to create a team of 20 professionals to serve the Cornwall market.

Local Partners Ian MacDonell, Pierre Vaillancourt and Andrew Shannon will oversee BDO's merger with Doyle & Shannon. The merged firms will operate under the BDO name.

"We are excited to serve the SD&G community and meet the growing needs of the Cornwall market," said Ian MacDonell. "As the only national accounting firm in the area, this merger will combine our local expertise with extensive resources, and strengthen our focus on assisting entrepreneurs with their complex needs."

"The merger comes at the right time for Doyle & Shannon and for our customers," added Andrew Shannon. "Our business is growing, as is the Cornwall economy, and the merger with BDO positions us well to provide expertise in a full range of assurance and accounting, tax, business valuation, succession planning and advisory services."

The new BDO office will be located at 132 Second Street East (Suite 301) starting in mid February.

"We are fortunate that the move will not result in any significant disruption to our services," said Mr. MacDonell. "The entire staff is pitching in to ensure that we remain open for business throughout the move."

"The new office gives us a Downtown Cornwall location with easy access and free parking for clients," said Mr. Shannon. "It is important to all of us that our customers continue to receive the same level of quality service that they have grown to expect."

"This is great news for Cornwall and another vote of confidence in our Downtown business district," said Mayor Bob Kilger. "I wish the entire team at the 'new' BDO all the best."

New Job Opportunities
As a reflection of its continuing growth BDO is currently hiring to fill new positions. The office is seeking a Tax Manager, a recent Chartered Accountant (CA) or Certified General Accountant (CGA) and a CA or CGA student to join its team. For more information on these opportunities, contact Andrew or Ian.

About BDO
BDO is one of the leading accounting and advisory firms in Canada with 90 years of experience providing value-added assurance, accounting, taxation and advisory services to a broad range of clients. With a national team of more than 2,700 partners and professionals, the firm builds strong relationships with businesses and communities from Vancouver to St. John's.

The City of Cornwall is seeking input from residents on the use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) on the City's Recreational Trail system.

Residents are invited to fill out a short online survey that is available on the City of Cornwall website (www.Cornwall.ca). In addition, the City will be holding an E-Bike Open House on February 22 from 3 pm to 7 pm in the Automotive Room at the Benson Centre. During this event, residents will be able to gather more information, ask questions and provide feedback to City staff. The online survey will be available until February 24.

"E-bikes are growing in popularity, and many municipalities are exploring the issue of how e-bikes interact with pedestrians, motor vehicles and other traffic," said Stephen Alexander, General Manager, Planning, Parks & Recreation. "With this survey and open house, we hope to measure public opinion on the use of e-bikes on the City Recreational Trail system."

This past summer, City Council passed a motion to undertake public consultation and to seek input from relevant City Committees on e-bikes. The results of this public consultation portion could help to shape future regulations on e-bikes in the community.

E-bikes are classified as bicycles under the Highway Traffic Act and as such, they can be operated on City roadways and recreational paths. Municipalities can enact By-Laws to prohibit the use of e-bikes on recreational paths if they so choose. As with the rules for bicycles, e-bikes are not allowed on sidewalks, and those operating an e-bike must be over the age of 16.

Cornwall, Ontario -- No one expects to be a Break and Enter (B&E) crime statistic.  It is very common for a victim of Break and Enter to experience many emotions, fears and stress as a result of this type of offence.  In partnership with Justice Canada, Victim Services of SDG&A with the support of local police services have developed a Break & Enter pilot project to better assist victims of B & E.  

This project consists of ensuring that B&E victims receive support and information to help ease their concerns, answer any questions they may have and provide security recommendations.  Victims of a B&E can be sent an information package by mail as a first step.  A comprehensive B&E booklet has also been developed with information which includes:  common reactions to a B&E, things that you can do that may help, common reactions in children, helping children cope, as well as home security and helpful local resources/business listings (i.e. police services, locksmiths, alarm companies, glass companies etc.).  B&E victims receiving the information will also be called for a follow-up by Victim Services and offered support, referrals as well as the opportunity to receive a free Home or Business Security Audit performed by trained members of the Police Services or Victim Services.  Members of Victim Services have been formally trained in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).  The purpose of this project is to support and assist victims of a B&E as well as offer recommendations on how to better protect their home and property.  Recommendations are done based on the concepts used through CPTED, the process whereby one manipulates the physical environment to produce the desired behavioural effects. By providing some basic target hardening recommendations, it is anticipated that homeowners/business owners can take some easy, economical steps to protect themselves from further incidents.

“This is a wonderful new initiative funded by Justice Canada and we hope to be able to provide the support and assistance that victims of B&E need and deserve” states Diane Plourde, Executive Director of Victim Services.  “People often don’t realize the traumatic effect a B&E can have on individuals, including children.  It is a violation of one’s private space.  We want to be able to assist victims in dealing with what has happened and help them feel more secure”.

A few days ago, the City of Cornwall decided to close their facebook page to users posting new topics, allowing admins only to start a discussion.

Public outrage immediately arose from the decision and a handful of individuals decided to start their own facebook group where discussion and freedom of speech would be encouraged.  They wanted to give an uncensored, unregulated space to the people of this beautiful city, where they could voice their opinions freely, no matter what the subject was, and assumed that everybody would play nice.

Now open under new management, the Cornwall U-Weight Loss Clinic is focusing on their customers.

U Weight Loss™ offers health and weight loss programs that are customized based on your health history, metabolism, lifestyle and needs. Intelligent Health is the concept behind the program.

By Jason Setnyk

In its first year, Operation Red Nose Cornwall gave out 165 free rides. The operation was launched by the Kinsmen Club, and during the holiday season, it offered to bring people and their vehicles home from a Christmas party, bar, restaurant, or club. This operation represents the work of 67 volunteers and over 1300 hours of volunteering! Although the rides were free, Operation Red Nose Cornwall accepted donations. A grand total of $4150.00 was given to the Boys and Girls Club After school program.

Cornwall Transit continues to make big ridership gains as a growing number of residents hop on board the bus.

Ridership on the City-run service has increased steadily for the past six years, and 2011 was no exception. Cornwall Transit provided a total of 787,499 paid rides on its conventional and Handi-Transit services last year, up from a total of 743,090 in 2010. The conventional bus service accounted for 750,394 of the paid rides in 2011.

by Jason Setnyk