The “Trinity Toe Tappers” clogging group put on a three hour public performance at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre that delighted hundreds of visitors to the mall in June. In the photo we see five members of the group of dedicated clog dancers who have evolved from the former “Capreol Cloggers”. From September to May they meet once a week every Monday evening in the Trinity United Church (Capreol) hall.

   The “Trinity Toe Tappers” consist of a very diverse group of individuals, most of whom live in Valley East or Capreol. However, one member travels from Wahnapitae and another is a published choreographer. The dancers perform regularly on a volunteer basis at various local community functions, at the area Senior’s Residences and Nursing Homes, and as well at the Irish Celtic Fair organized annually in March by the Sudbury Irish Arts Association.

In the photo above, Louise is shown with the following "models": From the left: Matthieu Beaulieu (standing in the front), Korbin Thibeault (standing behind Matthieu), Gilles Frappier, Trina Frappier, Caroline Dignard, Danica Frappier, Rae Frappier, Ashley Reed, Jennifer Dixon, Joel Beaulieu (standing beside Louise), Lisa Borgford, Chelcey Frappier, Erin Malinski, and Jonathan Fielding.

Louise is also shown below with two of her youngest models, Mikheala St.-Jean on the left and Keara Leeson on the right.

"This was the first time we have performed in a shopping centre, so it will be quite interesting to hear the feedback from the students. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but it was definitely a different experience for them," Sikora explained. 

Ulrich Sikora, a professional educator for the past 30 years has been with Thorneloe University for the past four years. During the course of his career, he has taught in places such Germany, Norway, Poland, Japan, the United States, and now, Ontario. He was born and raised in Germany and moved to Valley East in 1968. He now owns a home in Val Therese.

The students in the program perform for the Ontario Early Years Centres, of which there are some 20 locations, as well as for the Kids Share Program.

Thorneloe also puts on two main-stage performances each year. This year they put on Macbeth in November and are currently working on Molier's 'Tartuffe', a commentary on religious hypocrisy which be performed in March and will also be entered in the Quantas Northern Ontario Festival in Espanola.

Ulrich is also currently directing a play called 'Autobahn' which will be seen a the Market Square this coming summer. 

Sikora feels that there is a growing interest in dramatic arts and theatre programs such as the ones he teaches because so many people are discovering that the skills used in acting come in handy in many other areas of life. "The ability to communicate; to improvise and think on your feet; along with the self-confidence you gain by being on stage are all very important as you go through life"

   The Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers is a non-profit community program involving the co-operative efforts of the police, the community and the media. Crime Stoppers is based on the simple principle that for every crime committed, someone other than the criminal has information that would solve the crime.

   Setting up public displays in local shopping centres is one of the methods Crime Stoppers employs to make people more aware of their mission. Three members of the Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers recently set up at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre. In the photo we have: Paul Berardi, Director; Deborah Rousseau, Office & Event Coordinator; and Seann Kirkby, Volunteer.

   “Crime Stoppers takes calls from people who want to report a crime and wish to remain totally anonymous,” explained Deborah. “You never have to identify yourself or appear in court. We issue you an identity number for further reference and we never contact you. You contact us. We just use your information to help us solve the crime. All of our calls are taken by a police officer and our phone system does not allow us to use caller ID or to track your call. Your identity is even kept confidential if you earn a reward of anywhere from $50 to $2000 for your information if it leads to an arrest in any serious crime or recovery of drugs or stolen property.”

   All of the money raised for Crime Stoppers comes from donations or fund-raising, so if you are interested in helping this organization you are encouraged to contact Deborah at 675-8477 or visit their web site at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com. You can even submit tips online.

   Denise Fraser, on the far left, Special Constable with the Crime Prevention Branch of the Greater Sudbury Regional Police has been visiting schools and shopping malls for over 24 years in meeting her primary responsibility of increasing public awareness and reducing crime. She was part of a large display at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre during National Police Week in May. “We love coming to this mall. It is always so busy and we get to talk to so many people from the community.”

   With her in the photo are, from the left, Bob Brunette, Constable with the Crime Prevention Branch; Jennifer Geryk, a Grade 12 Co-op student from Marymount Academy ; Mario Maillet, a constable with the RCMP; Linda and John Goddard, members of the Capreol Citizens on Patrol, and; Peter Marunchak, a member of the Board of Directors with Crime Stoppers.

            The second in a series of Support the Troops endeavours by the Valley East Community Action Network is “Straight from the Heart” which features the Berthelot family whose son, Sergeant Raymond Berthelot, will soon be returning from a mission in the vicinity of Kandahar, to visit with his children, Matthieu and Cassandra.

Matthieu, 11, is shown with Alana Evershed of MCTV being interviewed for a special segment on the evening news. The poster behind Matthieu is one that he designed himself for the display.

            The son of Gaston and Pauline was a Val Caron boy who attended Notre Dame du Rosaire, 9 and 10 at Sacré Coeur, and graduated from l’Héritage.  The 36-year-old’s love of the military began in 1983 with four years of Army Cadets in Capreol, after which he moved on to the Militia in Sudbury .  In October of ’88, Raymond joined the Armed Forces, doing his basic training in St. Jean , Que., before being posted with Vindoux (the 22^nd regiment) for infantry training in early ’89 and spending the next four years in Lahr , Germany .  Injuries to his back in Bosnia shortened that ’92 tour of duty, after which he was posted in Gagetown, N.B.  In ’99, he returned to Bosnia for 6 ½ months as a peacekeeper.  In 2001, after becoming Master Corporal, Raymond spent 6 ½ months in Africa’s Eurethea and Ethiopia on a peacekeeping mission.  In 2005, he became Sergeant Raymond Berthelot and was stationed in Kabul .

            Raymond has had a variety of experiences with the Canadian Armed Forces.  For several weeks during the January ice storms south of Montreal in ’98, he brought in food, helped to restore services, was involved in cutting trees and removing debris, and worked to save livestock by removing them from dangerous situations or delivering food to them in isolated areas.   The recovery of forensics and debris from Swiss Air’s Flight 111 plane crash, seven nautical miles off the coast of Nova Scotia , not far from Peggy’s Cove, provided both experience and challenge.

            In an interview, Gaston and Pauline shared, “You never get used to the fact that your son or daughter is stationed in a dangerous situation.  Each parent deals with the situation in their own way; some need to hear every word about the armed forces on television and radio; others avoid any information but what pertains to their family.”

            How can we support the family?  The family needs to know that members of their community support them in what they are doing.  Relatives need to keep in communication with others who are in the same situation, as in a support group.  Soldiers returning to their community need to feel that their community supports them. 

            Straight from the Heart has been organized, not only to showcase the Berthelot Family, but to introduce to the communities of Valley East and Capreol a newly-formed Military Family Support group.

            “We get together to connect with other families who share the same concerns and worries as we do,” said Volunteer Co-ordinator, Denise Lecuyer, “ but, most of all, we provide moral support in very difficult times.”

              The Military Family Support group will be distributing the Invisible Ribbon, part of a federal project that was launched in November, and which represents an invisible uniform that we wear to support our troops. Denise welcomes calls to 983-0708 for any military family member who requires resources or further information about the next meeting to take place on Feb. 22^nd.

On Saturday, February 10, 2007, VECAN once again sponsored a special day at the Hanmer Valley Shopping Centre where the public was able to talk to some of the family members. In the above photo, Gaston, on the left is shown with Denise Lecuyer, Volunteer Co-ordinator, on the far right, explaining some of the information that is on the display board.  Denise also has a daughter in the Canadian navy. In the middle of the photo is Warrant Officer Yvon Godin, a veteran soldier who retired in 2004 after more than 35 years of service in the Canadian military. According to Lecuyer, there are a total of 17 area families with sons or daughters serving in the military.

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