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Inside Const. McDonald rides off following 30-year policing career ENTERTAINMENT
ADHS prepares to unveil Noel Coward production April 19. — Page A/CP6
SPORTS
CCanadians d oustedd bby CCornwallll in second round of playoffs. — Pages A/CP19 & 23
RELAY FOR LIFE
By CAITIE McRAE
EMC News – It was like the King of the Cowboys himself stood in the chilled April air, atop his golden palomino Trigger, while waving farewell to his comrades of Carleton Place. Close, but it wasn’t. It was Const. Greg McDonald, who after 30 years as a police officer in Carleton Place, would be hanging up his uniform and giving a final salute to his fellow officers. All done atop his horse, of course. It was McDonald’s own idea to have his send-off rival the likes of Roy Rogers or John Wayne. And seeing McDonald perched regally in the saddle, resembling more of a Texas Ranger than a member of the Ontario Provincial Police, it’s the perfect final curtain, tailored just for him. “He’s long overdue,” laughs Arlee Sheets, a friend of McDonald’s. The two met through a mutual friend at a farmer’s market, the ice breaker being their love for horses. Sheets, a farmer, was grateful for McDonald’s passion when six of Sheets’ own horses broke free from their corral and began trotting through the Lanark County countryside. “When the call came in, Greg was more than happy to take it,” Sheets said. “He was like ‘Oh, leave that to me. I know those horses,’” he recalled.
Photo by CAITIE McRAE
Last Thursday (April 11), Const. Greg McDonald rides off into retirement after 30 years as a police officer in Carleton Place. Fortunately, McDonald rounded up the team and brought them back to their rightful, and much thankful, owner. “He’s a great guy,” Sheets said. And the turnout for the constable’s retirement ceremony shows Sheets is hardly alone in that sentiment. OPP officers from the Carleton Place detachment packed the headquarters’ parking lot, donning warm gloves and trapper hats to combat the frigid air, all while laughing
and reminiscing about McDonald. “He’s going to be greatly missed,” said Const. Stacey Niceliu, a 26-year veteran of the force. He and McDonald go way back. McDonald weaved his way through the crowd of people, holding court atop his horse with a jovial laugh and wide grin, taking photos while soaking in the moment leading up to his parting parade along the town’s busying streets. “I could’ve retired 10 years ago,” chuckles McDonald.
McDonald joined the Carleton Place police force in 1984, before its 2003 merger with the OPP. But he wasn’t one of those freckle-faced boys running around with a plastic police badge growing up. Instead, McDonald wanted to be a cowboy. “This was the next best thing,” he said about his decision to become a police officer. McDonald’s spurs have been rooted in farming and horses for 40 years. His fellow
constable, Greg Streng, said because of that, “He was a lot of fun to have around.” Streng was a third generation farmer before joining the force, so he and McDonald “had quite a bit to talk about,” Streng said, with Const. Sean Trahan adding, “There’s nothing [McDonald] loves more than his horses and farming.” Well, maybe there’s one thing: The people of Carleton Place. “I’m really going to miss the townspeople,” McDonald laments. When asked what his retirement plans are, McDonald, not surprisingly, says he plans to work with his team of horses. That’s something his fellow officers seem to endorse. Dismissing ideas of golfing in Myrtle Beach or Caribbean vacations, Sgt. Rob Croth has a better retirement pitch for McDonald. “Auxiliary horse patrol,” Croth said with a laugh. He may be half-joking but as McDonald rides off into the ashen air, leading his procession of officers, family and friends along Coleman Street, cracking jokes and smiling ear-to-ear, maybe that’s not such a bad idea for this singing cowboy. Happy trails, Const. Greg McDonald. Caitie McRae is an Algonquin College journalism student who is currently undertaking a placement with the Canadian Gazette.
Come out to Carleton Place Home Show this weekend, April 19-21 By TIFFANY LEPACK tlepack@perfprint.ca
EMC Events – Need advice on a do-it-yourself project or some new ideas on how to freshen up your space? Look no further than this weekend’s second annual Carleton Place Spring Home and Fashion Show. The show will take place at the Carleton Place Arena at 75 Neelin St. this Friday, April 19 from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Last year, the event welcomed more than 2,000 people to the arena and with the overwhelming response organizers have expanded the event to include activities not only in both arenas but also in upper hall above arena B. The show will have more than 100 vendors from Cobden, Renfrew, Ottawa, Smiths Falls, Perth, Beckwith Township and Mississippi Mills and Carleton Place. The exhibitors will feature a number of items focused on spring home/ yard improvements such as
home décor, heating, cooling/ air conditioning, swimming pools, spas/hot tubs, automotive, nurseries and more. As well as the many exhibitors there will also be a number of special events in the upper hall. On Saturday afternoon there will be a Women’s Wear Fashion Show at 1 p.m. featuring clothes from Nancy’s Impressions, Giant Tiger and The Real Wool Shop. A number of popular local musicians will provide entertainment in the upper hall as
well including the Wade Foster Trio on Friday from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m., Dave Brown and Friends on Saturday from 2:30 to 6 p.m. and the Bowes Brothers on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. Organizers are making the show a true family affair and there is plenty to entertain children. On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Korny Klowns will be entertaining the kids with face painting and balloon art and Issie Mullen of ‘Issie’s Ladder of Learning’ will also be putting
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