THE
SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY NEWS Volume 48 Issue 09
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 1.90% 3 Year GIC - 2.40% 5 Year GIC - 2.70% Daily Interest 1.45%
638-3328
Friday, February 27, 2015
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Township bridges require $14 million in capital spending within a decade by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – More than $14 million worth of capital spending on bridges and culverts here is recommended over the next six to 10 years in a new bridge inspection report. R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited (Burnside) presented the results of its 2014 inspection of the township’s 69 municipal bridges and culverts to council on Jan.27. Although no new bridges were built, the number represents eight additional structures over three metres in span than in the 2012 report. Four additional structures were found during the rehabilitation of Concession 16 and four more were identified during the 2014 field inspections, the report said. The report also identifies remedial needs in three classifications: routine maintenance, additional investigations and repairs and rehabilitations (capital works). Township staff can carry out routine maintenance work in most cases, the report indi-
cated. The total estimated value of maintenance work to be completed by the township is $178,700. “We recommend that a general allowance to complete the works described above be included in the township’s annual road budget,� the report said. Four structures have been identified as in need of further investigation on an “urgent� basis. The report indicates work should be undertaken to monitor crack widths, deformation, settlements and movements until the structures can be scheduled for replacement “or the structures have been classified as stable.� A total of nine structures have been identified as “normal� priority for additional load evaluations, deck condition surveys or monitoring. The total estimated cost of the 13 additional investigations is $127,500. Capital works projects identified in the report prioritized as needed within six to 10 years would cost an estimated
$7,257,800. Costs for projects in the one- to five-year priority range are estimated at $4,279,000, and for projects prioritized within one year at $3,162,500. Roadside safety needs include a general allowance for guide rail and/or end treatments at all bridge locations as may be required. The total estimated cost for road side safety is $2,635,000. At its Feb. 10 meeting, council approved a staff recommendation to place load restrictions on four bridges on Sideroad 17. In a report to council, public works director Brad McRoberts noted the bridge inspection report recommends closure of the four bridges, “or if closure is not possible, instituting a reduced load limit of two tonnes for each structure until the structures can either be permanently closed or replaced.� The complete bridge inspection report can be viewed in the public works section of the township’s website: www. mapleton.ca.
Sweet Treats - For more than 25 years, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Alma has hosted a pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday. Congregation members, from left: Jeff Scott, Ron Mitchell and Sandra Mitchell, flipped and served pancakes on Feb. 17. photo by Caroline Sealey
Mapleton native receives prestigious Vanier Graduate Scholarship by Glynis M. Belec DRAYTON – Perseverance, quiet resolve and dogged determination have seen former Drayton area resident, Rachel Keunen, 23, through years of academic excellence. Those qualities have also helped her capture a major academic scholarship. Keunen attended Norwell District High School and received many academic awards including an Upper Grand Learning Foundation scholarship 2009, an Ontario Scholar award for 2009, the Principal’s award for academic achievement 2009, the Harj Gill Stop 23 Music Award in 2009, the Paul H. Rogers Extracurricular award in 2009, the Canadian Association of Principals’ Certificates of Honour 2009 and the Margaret McCullough Scholarship in 2009. Her final graduating average was over 95 per cent. In 2013, Keunen was accepted into the Bachelor of Sciences program in Biochemistry and Biotechnoloy at Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU). She received the President’s Centennial Scholarship which was an entrance award given to someone who has a high school average greater than 95%. She was also one of the top four students with the highest graduating averages in the Faculty of Science and as a result, received the Alumni
Nano-chemist - Mapleton native Rachel Keunen’s work in chemistry has culminated in her receiving a $150,000 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to pursue her Ph.D studies and research.
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Gold Medal. At WLU, Keunen was presented with a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) undergraduate student research award. Other honours include the Marjorie H. Brown Scholarship in Chemistry. This is awarded to a full-time student (completing an Honours Chemistry or joint Honours Chemistry program) who has the highest cumulative grade point average in all chemis-
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try courses. Keunen made the Dean’s list all four years. In the fall of 2014, she finished her Masters in Science in Analytical Chemistry and then immediately joined the Winnik group (http://www. chem.utoronto.ca) and began her research in self-assembly of block copolymers into rigid cylindrical micelles. With a natural inclination and curiosity for identifying substances of which matter is composed, how it inter-
acts, combines and changes to form new substances, Keunen seemed destined to be a chemistry aficionado. Although she didn’t go into it to receive award after award, she was delighted that her hard work was paying off. The culmination of Keunen’s efforts came when she learned that she had been selected from 2,000 applicants, to receive a $150,000 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to pursue her PhD studies and
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research. The government of Canada’s intention for awarding the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships for the (VCGS) program is to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. The criteria for acceptance and reward are strict and demanding. Vanier Scholars are required to demonstrate leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and/or humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health. Keunen applied for the program, submitting evidence of her research abilities, approach and worthiness. Then she waited. Although the waiting was long, she had strong support from her parents, Brian and Joanne Keunen, and her brothers, Aaron, Benjamin and Daniel. “It was nerve wracking waiting to hear if I got it,� Keunen said. “When I finally did I was ecstatic and wanted to do a happy dance.� The first phone call she made was to her mother, Joanne. “Rachel was very shy growing up,� her mother said, adding she remembers how much her daughter loved school – even on snow days.
“[She] always enjoyed assisting others with their homework, too, and she was a big help with her little brothers. Determination and dedication to her family has been an integral part of Keunen’s life and her strong will is now serving her well as she perseveres in her studies. “I always thought she’d go into math,� her mother said. “I never thought she would pursue a Ph.D. in nano-chemistry.� Keunen conquered her shyness and went on to excel in many areas. Her parents are grateful she has found something she enjoys. Getting the VCGS is like a validation that she has chosen the correct path. “It was still kind of surreal,� Keunen said, as she considered the road ahead and those who have helped her along the way. “The journey getting here was hectic and full of extracurricular [demands], work as a research assistant, and a continual stream of assignments and tests for my courses.� She indicated that, although it has been a lot of hard work, she has thoroughly enjoyed the journey, especially doing her undergraduate work at WLU. She is grateful to her instructors and professors who inspired and motivated her through her undergraduate studies. As well as her parents, she Continued on page 3
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