Year: 2012

Emergency services descended on Evonik Oil Additives Canada Inc. Industries of Morrisburg November 23, not for a real emergency, but for real training, in case of a real emergency. 

“As a Responsible Care® company, this is a good measure that we undertake to protect our employees and our community,” says Carmine Bonacci, Evonik President, Plant manager, of Friday’s training exercise that had local emergency service personnel from the South Dundas fire department, Cornwall and SD&G EMS and the SD&G OPP called to the scene of a ‘fire’ in a storage building. 

Bonacci explained that Evonik regularly takes the lead role in ensuring that the community of South Dundas and its emergency response personnel are prepared to appropriately respond to an emergency at the site industry which manufactures oil additives. “At the end of the day, we need to make sure our people and the community are safe.” 

According to Bonacci, most of the additives manufactured are non-hazardous polymers, but some are hazardous raw materials are used during the manufacturing process. 

Friday’s emergency training exercise had been a few weeks in the planning, but only a handful of the employees who left the building following a 9:30 a.m. fire alarm knew that the fire was simulated. 

The emergency responders however did know that the call was simply a training exercise and their response to the scene was quick, as it would be in a real situation. 

Those staff who did know of the drill were on hand to evaluate the scene for later critique to determine how the situation could be better handled in the case of a real emergency. 

“Here we rehearsed a scenario where there was a fire in a storage building,” explained Chris McDonough, Fire Chief for South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services. “When we arrived on scene, we learned that two people were unaccounted for, so we assume that they are in the building. So, our priority is to search for the victims before we suppress the fire.” 

Upon arrival Chief McDonough also received an update concerning what chemicals were in the building in question, that information would be relayed to a hazardous materials team in Cornwall for evaluation. 

“This is a good exercise for all the emergency services,” said McDonough. About 20 South Dundas firefighters, three paramedics and one OPP officer attended the scene. At the end of the scenario, all had the opportunity to discuss areas for improvement. 

“By doing exercises like this, we find out what we can improve on, and that’s what it’s all about,” said McDonough. “It’s a good exercise for them (Evonik) and it’s a training bonus for us.” 

McDonough would like to see South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services participate in a training exercise like this at different locations in the municipality once every year. 

“It is a costly endeavour,” said McDonough referring to the firefighters need to take time off work and for plant production to shut down during the exercise. “But, it’s worth it, because now, in the case of an emergency, we all know exactly what we need to do.”

[…]

So far, over $25,000 has been raised in support of local prostate cancer care, and Tom Clapp, the chair of the Dare to Flash a ‘Stache campaign, and many of the campaign participants are smiling broadly under their now re-growing ‘staches.

“We had no idea what to expect, but people have really supported it,” said Clapp of this first time endeavour. “We are very pleased to say the least.”

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds is only of one of the many community members participating in the fund raiser.

Byvelds says that the community has responded to his challenge to raise $1,000. As of today he has collected just over $1,800. He adds that maybe $2,000 should be his new fund raising goal. Anyone who wishes to sponsor any of the participants can do so at www.flashastach.ca and Byvelds will also continue to collect donations by contacting him directly.

[…]

Almost 700 people attended the annual Morrisburg and District Arts and Crafts Association show and sale at the Morrisburg Legion over the weekend, a number that pleased the exhibitors and the association alike.

Linda Schenck, the association’s chairperson explained that this was the first year that she kept track of attendance, but said the crowd definitely seemed bigger this year than past years.

The hall was packed with the products of 27 vendors.

“I think everyone enjoyed themselves. I hope everyone knows how much we appreciate everyone who played a part in this great show,” said Schenck. “From the exhibitors who set up such nice displays to the people who showed up and spent their money, to the newspaper for providing such great coverage.”

Next year the show, which has been taking place for more than 30 years, will see a couple of major changes.

It will change from a three day show to a two day show.

“We are eliminating the Friday night,” said Schenck, explaining that a lot of the crafters work, so they find it tough to get set up in time for the Friday night. She hopes that attendance will still remain high over the Saturday and Sunday.

Another major change for next year will be a small admission charge at the door for those attending. “People will be asked to give $1 or to donate a non perishable food item at the door next year,” said Schenck. The sole purpose of this admission will be to allow another charity to benefit from the event.

“The whole point of this event is to help out different organizations in the community,” said Schenck, explaining that this change will enable them to help out the food bank, which helps those in the community in need.

In addition to expanding the charity network of the show, Schenck hopes to expand the event’s social network by creating a Facebook page.

[…]

Students at Timothy Christian School (TCS) celebrated the 50th day of their school’s 50th year on Wednesday, November 14 with a fun day of dressing up, decorations, cupcakes and more.

Many Grade 1 students in schools across the country mark the 100th day of school with special activities where they have an opportunity to count to 100. 

In honour of Timothy Christian’s 50th school year, all students from junior kindergarten to Grade 8 were involved in 50 day. 

Each class worked together to make a display or structure using 50 pieces of a school supply/item. 

Creative ideas included 50 magnets to spell TCS, 50 blocks lined up like dominoes, 50 pencils in the shape of the number 50 and 50 pieces of chalk to make a building using clay as the vertices.

Students also dressed up to showcase the number 50. 

They wore 50 bracelets, put 50 hair ties in their hair, put 50 post-it notes or stickers on their shirts and painted the number 50 on their faces. 

For 50 cents they could purchase a cupcake at recess with the money raised to be used to buy school supplies in a developing country. 

In the morning, at a short chapel (assembly), the students shared their top 50 reasons why they love Timothy Christian School. Reasons ranged from “we have great teachers” and “we can learn about God every day” to “fun intramural programs” and a “new play structure to play on”.

“Fifth day is just one of the activities planned to celebrate our school’s 50th anniversary year,” says Gary Postma, principal of Timothy Christian School. “TCS began offering Christ-centred education to area students in 1963. Now we’re teaching the third generation of students and it’s an exciting time in our school’s history.” 

More can be learned about Timothy Christian School visit at the school’s website at www.tcswilliamsburg.ca or by visiting on a Welcome Wednesday. 

There is no appointment necessary to meet the staff, see the facility and learn more about how faith is incorporated into everyday learning. 

[…]

A recently announced $11 million increase in provincial government funding supporting community-based services in the Champlain Local Health Integration Network is designed to give area residents more options for home and community care.

Among the health care providers who will increase their services due to the extra funding is Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

That organization will share in a $1 million increase in funding for personal support and respite programs that offer assistance to clients living alone, and caregivers in need of respite. Services include grooming, dressing, bathing, transferring, bed care and medication compliance. 

These services are aimed at lower-risk seniors who do not qualify for Community Care Access Services, and is more of a service aimed at preventing problems.

“What this means is that Williamsburg Non-Profit Housing will be providing more hours of service and seeing more people,” said Janet Levere, executive director of WNPHC. “These are important services to the many seniors who are staying in their homes longer.”

WNPHC was also named as a service provider agency that will share in a $400,000 annual funding increase to the Assisted Living Services program which provides health services at home for high-risk seniors needing personal support services including hygiene, assisting with medication and homemaking, 24/7 monitoring and care coordination.

The bulk of the increased funding, just over $7 million, will benefit the Champlain Community Care Access Centre in delivering services through a variety of programs across the region, with the aim of supporting seniors' transition from hospital to home. These services assist clients with moderate to high needs either to avoid unnecessary hospitalization, or once in hospital, to go home sooner with appropriate supports in place.

According to the LHIN news release, 90,000 more seniors across the province will receive care at home thanks to the addition of three million personal support worker hours over the next three years.

“The Champlain LHIN is making important, strategic investments that will help transform the health system by expanding services in community settings,” said Chantale LeClerc, Champlain LHIN CEO. “In particular, seniors and people with mental health conditions and addictions will benefit from the new programs, which aim to improve quality of life, prevent avoidable emergency room visits, and keep folks healthy at home.”

[…]

The response to the Trade Roots event held here Wednesday, was unreal, according to event coordinator Elaine DeKroon.

DeKroon has been part of events all over and said, “I have never seen as much support for an event as we have had today.” 

The career event gave high school students, and members of the public, the opportunity to see skilled trades in action and gather information from skilled tradespeople and educators about career opportunities.

“A lot of the interest in this (Morrisburg) event is because of this facility,” said DeKroon of the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario which offers heavy equipment training.

“It is a really good fit for us to have our event here. People really want to see what this place is about.”

Twelve high schools from Prescott to Cornwall to Ottawa, including Seaway, North Dundas and Rothwell-Osnabruck, were bussed into the event that was also open to the pubic.

They were treated to 46 exhibits showcasing various trades.

“It is great when we have the trades programs from the colleges participate,” said DeKroon.

St. Lawrence College had a strong presence with culinary arts students providing samples of their work and hairstyling students demonstrating their skills on willing volunteers.

Other, more obscure programs, such as the control engineering technology program, also had exhibits to show students what they do and how their efforts are put to use in various industrial applications.

This is the third year that Trade Roots has taken place in Morrisburg. The Morrisburg event was hosted by St. Lawrence College and is funded by Service Canada, in part by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. The final opportunity to attend a Trade Roots event will take place in March 2013, when they will be in Kemptville.

[…]

Nine months into a fund raising campaign to pay for a new MRI that will be located at the redeveloped Cornwall Community Hospital, campaign officials have asked South Dundas to contribute to the cause.

Roy Perkins, campaign co-chair for the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation initiative, made the funding request to South Dundas council at the November 6 meeting.

The request was simply for financial support, with no dollar figure attached or suggested. Similar requests have been made to every council in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and Akwesasne, United Counties council and will be made to the City of Cornwall.

The ‘To Your Health!’ Campaign aims to raise $3.5 million by the end of the year to fund the MRI and a digital urology table for the Digital Centre of Excellence that will bring these diagnostic tools closer to the residents of this region. Presently, those needing the use of such diagnostic tools are travelling at least an hour to Ottawa or Kingston for the services.

Cornwall is the only approved site for an MRI in this region.

According to Perkins, $2.5 million of the $3.5 million campaign goal has been raised. He reported that the councils they have visited have expressed their in principle support to provide funds to the campaign, but most are deferring their final decisions until budget time.

Erin Killoran, campaign manager, explained the many benefits of having an MRI in a small community hospital in Cornwall, including easing the burden on the health care system that presently has long wait times for MRI. Quicker access to such diagnostic equipment allows for early diagnoses, faster treatments, all the while being much less invasive than traditional methods of diagnosis.

MRI and the digital urology table, like the addition of any new equipment, has the added potential benefit of enticing new medical professionals to the region.

Once it is up and running early next year, the MRI will operate five days a week, eight hours a day. That means about 3,000 tests per year will take place at the site, which accounts for the number of patients in the region who are being sent to Ottawa or Kingston.

South Dundas council was generally supportive of providing some funding to the campaign, however they would like to see what the Counties and other communities pledge. They also want to wait to discuss the amount in the context of budget discussions.

“It kills me that hospitals have to keep coming to the community,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan who suggested that if the people of South Dundas think it’s a worthy cause that they should donate themselves.

However, the nature of provincial funding only provides funds for buildings, leaving communities to fund raise for the equipment that goes into those hospitals.

South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds said that he has personally supported this campaign and that council will consider providing some funds, an amount to be determined, closer to budget time. 

Counties contribute $500,000

CORNWALL – The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry will be contributing $500,000 on behalf of the taxpayers of SD&G to the “To Your Health!” campaign to raise funds to pay for an MRI and digital urology table that will be located at the new Cornwall Community Hospital.

“It is certainly something that is needed in this area,” said South Dundas mayor and counties councillor Steven Byvelds who seconded the motion tabled by North Stormont mayor Dennis Fife at the counties council meeting on Monday. The $500,000 will be allocated over two years.

[…]