Morrisburg and District Lions committed to No Child Without program

 

On the afternoon of March 27th, fire broke out at Iroquois Enterprises in the dust collector.

“Crews arrived to find flames coming from the side hatch and from the lower portion of the collector,” reported South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services chief Chris McDonough.

“Iroquois requested Morrisburg to assist and the flames were quickly extinguished. It took,” he continued, “three hours to remove the excess sawdust and ensure there were no other ‘hot spots’ in the collector.”

Owners of the company were “put on notice” and were made “aware of the maintenance that is required and of the fire code regulations surrounding the operation of the facility.”

Iroquois Enterprises manufactures new hardwood or softwood pallets and industrial wood products. The company is located at 32 Dundas Street in Iroquois.

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 “We provide a service beyond what you expect,” said Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) CEO, Cholly Boland.

On November 17th, WDMH hosted a Coffee and Conversation period with the press to talk about the hospital’s obstetrics program.

Susan Castle, Clinical Manager of Medical/Surgical and Obstetrics at WDMH told reporters: “We’re classified as a Level One hospital. Any really sick moms or babes have to go to Ottawa. To go up a level, we’d need a nursery, which we don’t have.” 

In terms of what WDMH offers, she said, “we have three female obstetricians. We have six midwives. We offer anesthesia service – epidurals. We take the pain situation very seriously here.” 

“We give mom options,” Castle continued. “Patients can choose what they feel comfortable with.”

“We have four birthing rooms and eight postpartum rooms.”

Boland interjected, saying “we have birthing rooms that are home-like, not like a hospital room.”

Continuing, he said, “maternity is right next door to surgery if a cesarean section is required.”

Dr. Ejibonmi Adetola, Chief of Obstetrics at WDMH since March 2011, says the “cesarean section rate is about 22 per cent.”

“You don’t find a lot of Level One hospitals with three obstetricians with a 24 hour service.”

“That’s what draws the women to us. It’s the word of mouth,” continued Dr. Adetola. “It is really nice here. Nurses are really dedicated.”

Castle agreed, saying, “we have a stable non-turnover group of nurses who take pride in their work.”

She explained that the nurses are specially trained to work in the obstetrics unit, adding, “I have nurses coming from Ottawa applying here, which is great because they’re highly experienced.”

“Our postpartum service is open 24/7 as of November 1st,” said Castle. Here, she continued, “RNs are specifically trained to work with mom now that she’s delivered.”

According to Boland, there were approximately 200 births at WDMH in 2006.

Castle said there have been approximately 400 births per year since 2006 and this year, in 2011, the total is approximately 600 births.

According to Dr. Adetola, “patients come from all over Ottawa, from as far as Brockville and Cornwall, as well as all the neighbouring towns. People come from everywhere.” 

Boland emphasized, “we have this expert surgical coverage. People need to understand it can happen in a community this size.”

Having a baby at WDMH is “a safe experience, a comfortable experience, it’s a small town home experience,” said Boland.

According to Castle, “everybody gets a knitted hat,” thanks to volunteers and to the WDMH Foundation,  

The Foundation also offers parents, grandparents, friends or neighbours the opportunity to purchase a “shiny red wooden apple with baby’s picture, name and birth date on it” for a minimum of $60 in celebration of the hospital’s 60th anniversary. The apple is hung on the apple tree wall in the obstetrics unit for one year. On baby’s first birthday the apple is returned home as a keepsake.

Money raised through the apple program “will help the hospital grow, supporting equipment purchases to enhance the excellent care programs for your friends and family.”

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When the 156 women who were part of 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas came together last Thursday night, May 7 at the Upper Canada Playhouse, they came together to select three of a proposed 10 local charities/organizations to receive their donations of $100 per woman or $15,600.

They were also delighted to learn that they had been joined by the Scotiabank, Morrisburg’s Community Matching Fund program which brought their donation to $20,000.

Receiving the top vote in the 100 Women Who Care About South Dundas first-time initiative, and a $10,000 donation, was the Dundas County Hospice, headquartered in Williamsburg. Hospice serves residents of Dundas County who have been diagnosed with terminal illness. It provides the terminally ill and their families various in-home services and programs designed to help them remain at home as long as possible. 

Recently, Hospice, which operates out of the J.W. MacIntosh Support Centre, purchased a home in Williamsburg. In addition to providing space for its head office, the home will be a welcoming space for the Hospice day program which provides clients time away from homes and their caregivers.

The second place donation of $6,000 went to the J.W. MacIntosh Senior Support Centre in Williamsburg, and third place and $4,000 was donated to the South Dundas Splash Pad project at the Children’s Park in Morrisburg.

Each of the 10 organizations nominated were in attendance to market their proposal before the voting. 

They included St. Lawrence Acoustic Stage, South Dundas Youth Centre, The Dundas County Food Bank, MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre, WDMH Foundation, Optimists Club, Dundas County Community Living, Dundas County Hospice, The Carman House Museum and The Splash Pad.

After the women completed their first round vote the top three (this year four because there was a tie) organizations were given the opportunity to speak on their organization’s project.

In making his presentation to the assembled women, Hospice Board Chair, Bob Pitruniak,  said “I think the 100 Women idea is terrific and regardless of who you choose, all the people of South Dundas are going to benefit.”

In addition to explaining the work of Dundas County Hospice, he told the group of the recent purchase of the home in Williamsburg.  “We need a new furnace, we need central air, we need a new water heater and we need kitchen appliances. That is our project.”

MacIntosh Senior Support Centre, executive director Janet Levere explained the Centre has been supporting seniors in the community for over 24 years. She said the Centre’s project will be to provide financial help to local seniors. “Perhaps to help them pay for their Meals on Wheels or to help them with their heat bill. Whatever is needed to allow them to stay in their homes.” 

Levere said the Centre planned to form a committee that would review the client needs and disburse the money up to $500 per eligible senior in need. 

“We feel honoured to be here tonight, and we will use the funds to directly impact the lives of our clients,” she said.

Rosemary Laurin spoke on behalf of the Splash Pad Committee. 

“I think this is a great way to get people talking and thinking of things in our community,” said Laurin on behalf of the Splash Pad Committee. Laurin reported the South Dundas community has now raised $173,000 of the $200,000 and if they were to win, the donation would help them to reach their goal.

Dundas County Food Bank secretary Celeste Guse, said the “municipality [South Dundas] has been giving us the facility since the beginning.” She spoke of the upcoming move to the Morrisburg arena and the municipality’s continued generosity in bringing the new location up to code at their expense and fronting an interest free loan of $56,000. 

“The one thing we are asking 100 Women to help with is the cost of a loading door and separate entrance for the volunteers. The doors cost $12,500, and we are asking you to help us fund them. We are hoping we can put a plaque on the door that says ‘100 women of South Dundas provided this door’.”

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