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2016 Year in Review: August

January 13, 2017   ·   0 Comments

August 4, 2016

•  The Orangeville Jr. B Northmen won the Ontario Jr. B Lacrosse League West Conference title with an 11.5 win over the Windsor Clippers in game five of their best of five series at the Alder Street arena on August 2.

It was a tight series that could have gone either way, but the Northmen’s skill grit and determination got them through in the end.

August 11, 2016

•  In a move that shocked many local residents, on March 10 the Town of Orangeville locked employees and owners out of Hogeys Sports Bar without warning. The action occurred while owner Gerry Hogenhout says he was under the impression he was involved in ongoing negotiations regarding his 21-year lease and property taxes.

A lawsuit filed this week alleges the Town is responsible for not just damages due to the loss of investments Mr. Hogenhout put into the facility over the years, but as well for the destruction of a business that had been eight years in the making.

Outlined in the 21-year rental agreement, Hogeys Sports Bar Limited (HGSL) would be required to pay the Town a percentage of their sales annually, in lieu of rent. Within that portion of the agreement, a clause states HSBL would be responsible for a minimum amount, regardless of sales, annually.

The plaintiff’s statement of claim says Mr. Hogenhout chose to pay quarterly, rather than annually, to ensure payments were made and minimize any potential shortfalls. The minimum amount HSBL was to pay for 2015 was $25,000 and at the end of the year the organization had paid $19,292.55, resulting in a year end shortfall of $5,607.45.

Mr. Hogenhout claims he was advised by Orangeville mayor Jeremy Williams not to pay the overdue charges as he said it could potentially be included in a new lease agreement the two were negotiating.

“What they did destroyed a business I spent eight years building and affected the reputation of not just myself, but Hogeys and the social club,” Mr. Hogenhout said. “It’s a very sad end to something that was growing and that the entire town was really getting behind.”

•  In a final series that saw some of the best lacrosse this year in the province, the Orangeville Jr. A Northmen came out on top with a four game sweep over the Six Nations Arrows to win the Ontario Jr. A Lacrosse League championship.

The Jr. A Northmen will now go on to compete in the national Minto Cup championship, which this year takes place in Langley, British Columbia.

•  The Orangeville Outlaws Jr. Varsity team claimed the Ontario Minor Football League championship with a 27-15 win over the North Bay Bulldogs at Etibocoke’s Centennial stadium on August 6.

•  The Orangeville Jr. B Northmen are the reigning champions of the Ontario Jr. B Lacrosse League after winning their final series over the Green Gaels of Clarington on August 8 in Bowmanville.

The Northmen had a stellar season, winning their division and finishing second overall in the 25-team division. Celebrations had to be put off with the team participating in the Founders Cup, taking place right here in Orangeville, just a few days later.

•  Toronto Rock owner, president and general manager Jamie Dawick announced that former Orangeville Jr. A Northmen head coach Matt Sawyer would be the new head coach of the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League.

As head coach in Orangeville, Sawyer won three Minto Cups Jr. A Championships, with victories coming in 2008, 2009 and 2012.

August 18, 2016

•  The Founders Cup got underway in Orangeville, with eight teams representing six provinces battling it out to claim the Jr. B National Championship.

Ontario was represented by the host Orangeville Northmen and the Green Gaels out of Clarington. Teams from Saskatchewan, Manitboba, Alberta, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and the Seneca War Chiefs of the First Nations Lacrosse League arrived in Orangeville with the opening day banquet help on August 15 and opening ceremonies occurring August 16 at the Alder Street arena.

The competition featured three days of round robin competition, followed by the quarterfinals on August 19, semi-finals on August 20 and the final on August 21.

In the end, it was the Northmen that proved to be the best, stomping through the competition before dispatching of Green Gaels of Clarington 11-6 in a stunning final. Winning the national championship as the host team is an outstanding accomplishment for the Jr. B Northmen. The club last won the Founders Cup 26 years ago, when the Northmen defeated the Port Coquitlam Saints to win the title in 1990.

• Thousands of local residents treated themselves to a Blizzard at the Dairy Queen in Orangeville last Thursday, with all the money raised going to support the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.

On August 11, just shy of 5,500 Blizzards were sold in Orangeville, with $57,000 raised through the initiative. Storeowner John Lockyer has long been a supporter of the annual campaign and was recognized for his generosity earlier in the summer. He thanked local residents for coming out and once again making Miracle Treat Day such a huge success.

“People are so generous. We are absolutely blown away by the support this community has given us,” Mr Lockyer said.

August 25, 2016

•  The Town of Orangeville finally broke their silence regarding the Hogeys lawsuit that has landed at their feet, passing two consecutive motions – first to file a defense denying the allegations of Hogeys Sports Bar Limited, and another to file a third party claim against Mayor Jeremy Williams, citing him as the party responsible if the case is now dismissed.

The motion was passed without the presence of Mayor Williams, who left the council chambers moments before council was called into session by Deputy Mayor Warren Maycock.

• Drivers and vehicles owners with a birthday after September 1 had a little present from the provincial government to look forward to, but it wasn’t exactly a nice one.

Fees to renew licenses and vehicle validation increased at the start of the month, with the cost of a license jumping from $81.50 to $90 and vehicle validations seeing a $12 hike – up to $120 from $108.

Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones says she’s not impressed with the hikes.

“I think it’s just anther indication that life gets more and more expensive under Kathleen Wynne and the Liberal government,” she said.

• The Orangeville A’s have announced they have a new head coach for the 2016/17 NBLC season. Brandon Lesovsky is taking over the top spot on the A’s bench.

Lesovsky will be inheriting an A’s squad that finished with a 14-29 record last season. The new National Basketball League of Canada season got underway back in December, with the A’s grinding out victories in their opening two games.

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