Playhouse gives back to the community

A project that will open up some municipally-owned commercial property in Morrisburg finally has approval. 

At the June 18 South Dundas council meeting the nearly $535,000 project tender was awarded to David Brown Construction.

The project will see Industrial Road in the Morrisburg industrial park extended 500 meters north and 400 meters east to complete the loop to Prospect Road.

While the properties to the east of the new roadway are privately-owned, those west and north of the road are owned by the municipality.

Having commercial property available and ready for development is something that the municipality has not been able to offer businesses expressing an interest in coming here. This project will open up that opportunity.

“If we want someone to build there, then we better put a road out there,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

“This is the only way it happens,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. “If we don’t have it, it will never happen.”

Council agreed and approved the project.

The roadway will be built, but the land will not be serviced until the need arises.

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SD&G – At the first meeting of the Economic Development Officers Working Group for 2014, held last week at the North Stormont Municipal Office in Berwick, a passionate introduction to the Shift 10% campaign was made.

The Shift 10% campaign is led by champions Kim Stewart, Shift 10% Coordinator, and owner of Stokefire and Donna Primeau, South Stormont, Chamber of Commerce President and owner of Showcase in the Long Sault Plaza.

Shift 10% Back to Local is a campaign designed to remind the public about the benefits of supporting their locally owned businesses. 

Campaign advocate Kim Stewart believes that by actively shifting 10 per cent of shopping to local businesses, the whole community will benefit.  

“The advantage is that we are their neighbours, we are the ones who support their son’s and daughter’s minor sports, donate to community fundraisers, and hire youth from the neighbourhood,” said Stewart.

“The South Stormont Chamber of Commerce (SSCC) has started to develop a 36 month campaign with a primary goal of increasing the profiles of local businesses,” said Donna Primeau. 

There is no charge to participate in the program, only the commitment to be an ambassador of the Shift 10% campaign.  SSCC has been presenting across Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry with the hopes that local business owners will support the Shift 10%  campaign.  

“You do not have to be a Chamber of Commerce member to participate in the program – we want Shift 10% to become region wide – and in the future be recognizable throughout eastern Ontario,” added Stewart.

SDG Economic Development and Communications Officer Terry Besner sees great potential in this grass roots movement. 

“By supporting the Shift 10% program both businesses and consumers will benefit. The economic growth will strengthen existing businesses, encourage expansion, and foster entrepreneurial spirit locally,” concluded Besner.

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Press Release

The Cancer Care Program at Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) has a new team member named ISAAC. 

ISAAC (Interactive Symptom Assessment and Collection) is an online computer tool that allows patients to record how they are feeling related to the nine most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients.

Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) has developed ISAAC and WDMH is the first satellite site in the Champlain Regional Cancer Program to use the new technology.

Before their appointment, patients complete a pre-assessment at the touch-screen computer kiosk located in the waiting room. 

They assign a score to each symptom such as pain, fatigue, shortness of breath and depression. Each patient receives a print out and the information is automatically transferred to the patient’s electronic health record.

“Many patients struggle with the physical and emotional pain caused by cancer symptoms,” explains Lynn Hall, vice president, clinical services and chief nursing officer at WDMH. 

“ISAAC helps put patients in control by assessing their own symptoms.”

Each patient’s care team reviews the assessment, resulting in appropriate treatment and better care. 

For example, if a patient records a pain level of five, treatment can be provided to reduce the pain. The caregiver can then track this symptom over time and across various health care settings.

WDMH’s Cancer Care Program supports patients through every step of their journey.

[…]