Lanark, North Leeds & Grenville - Hometown News January 2021

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Vol. 8

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JANUARY 2021

Linton's plan for Smiths Falls former Our Perth writer is a water treatment plant very much alive man of many talents Perth - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Newspaper reporter and photographer, sailor, police officer, elite distance runner, community volunteer, and seeker after intelligent life in outer space – Perth’s own Terrance O’Hearn is a man of many talents. After contributing a monthly column to the Hometown News for a number of years, Terry will be stepping back a bit due to health issues in his family. He does plan to keep writing when he can. A native of Gananoque, Terry has lived in Perth since 1967. Although Gananoque is a long way from any ocean, Terry joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1961 because his father and uncles were all navy men. His father served in World War II as a stoker aboard HMCS Waskesiu, the first Canadian-built frigate. He was a member of the crew when Waskesiu sank a German U-Boat in the North Atlantic on Feb. 24, 1944. Terry’s own naval service began in a top secret commu-

Plans to build an attractive modern development on the site of Smiths Falls’ former water treatment plant are still alive. The developers, led by Bruce Linton, are shifting their focus from office space to residential units. Photo credits: AJ Photography.

Smiths Falls - Chris Must editorial@pdgmedia.ca Bruce Linton’s dream of turning Smiths Falls’ former water treatment plant into an attractive modern development is still alive. The entrepreneur and former chairman and CEO of Canopy Growth Corporation told the Hometown News this week that although Canopy Growth is no longer backing the project, he has found new partners. Plans for the site at 25 Old Mill Road have also evolved to meet the changing times. “It’s a phenomenal total site, that before Covid was a bit too long a drive from Ottawa,” said Linton. A very detailed proposal for the site was presented to Smiths Falls in June of 2019, showing plans for a large hotel and office space. The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a re-evaluation of those plans. Linton said the pandemic has proven it is possible for many

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people to work from home, and could make traditional offices obsolete. He has been working on new plans with a group of partners, one an expert on apartment buildings, another with experience in construction, and another with a finance background who is working to bring in capital for the project. The group, whose partnership has not yet been formalized, are shifting the focus of the project from office space to residential units, with “some commercial on the first floor,” said Linton. “It’s an evolution of a great site,” he added. Linton noted that his team has just hired a talented individual from Calgary, which is only possible because of the team’s ability to work from home. “We can hire anyone from anywhere,” he said. The partners will make a new presentation to town council, but a date has not yet been scheduled because details of the project are still being worked out. Linton said the location is at-

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tractive because of Smiths Falls’ pedestrian-friendly main street and the proximity to the Rideau Canal, which provides recreational opportunities for those interested in canoeing and kayaking. The potential for new residential space in town is obvious, Linton said, because “If you put a house up for sale, it still sells quite rapidly.” Linton’s interest in the Old Mill Road site dates back to his tenure as CEO of Canopy Growth. “When I ran Tweed I was driving from our offices in Kanata, and I thought we should have offices in Smiths Falls,” he said. “Then I got fired.” However, Linton’s involvement in Smiths Falls has continued, including a recent project to renovate the historic post office building on Russell Street.

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nications branch as a “radio man special,” spending nine months at Inuvik. Located a few miles from the existing community of Aklavik, Inuvik was specially built by the government during the late 1950s to meet the need for a Cold War installation in the Arctic. The small community was home to “a huge array of antennas,” Terry recalled. In 1963 Terry headed to the East Coast to serve on HMCS Chaudiere (DDE 235), a destroyer escort. He also managed to spend a few weeks aboard HMCS Lanark, the World War II frigate named for Lanark, Ontario. (The ship would have been named after the town of Perth, if the Australian navy had not already commissioned a vessel named for Perth, Australia.) Prior to joining the navy, Terry had worked for a couple of years at the Kingston Whig-Standard “right out of business school.” He covered both country and city beats before becoming a photographer. Continues on page 4

Terrance O’Hearn, far left, was a member of this OPP running team which competed at the Detroit Police Games in 1983. This photo was taken after a five-mile race. Fourth from left is Brendan Keenoy, who still holds the world record for quickest time to ascend the steps of the CN Tower. Photo credit: Terrance O’Hearn.

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