Darts for Hearts in Iroquois

 

Members of the Morrisburg & District Lions Club and the Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club are expressing their gratitude to MacEwen Petroleum of Morrisburg for their generosity in once again sponsoring the 7th South Dundas Senior Christmas Concert coming up at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners on Saturday, November 24th. 

Karen Ouderkirk, Morrisburg MacEwen C Store owner, who has championed this event for several years, explains the South Dundas Seniors Concert is an opportunity to thank the community for their support in a meaningful and significant way. 

In lending her support and endorsement, Ouderkirk points out that the two Lions clubs have put together a comprehensive package for South Dundas seniors, by pooling their resources to decorate Matilda Hall, provide transportation, and ensure a joyful afternoon which includes festive Christmas music, exceptional refreshments and the fellowship of friends. And it is all free of charge to concert goers.  

The doors at Matilda Hall will open at 1:30 p.m. and the concert will run from 2-4 p.m. 

Back by popular demand are Ron Whitteker and his band, “Good Time Country” who will provide toe tapping and traditional Christmas tunes! Once the concert concludes, members of both Lions Clubs will serve refreshments while Santa Claus and friends make an appearance!  

This event is offered at no cost to the Seniors of south Dundas Township. 

Whitteker Bus Lines are again providing transportation to the concert from: Iroma Apartments, Iroquois at 12:20 p.m.; Hartford Retirement Centre, Morrisburg at 12:40 p.m.; Morris Glen, Morrisburg at 12:50 p.m.; Park Drive Villa, Williamsburg at 1:05 p.m.

For additional concert information or transportation needs seniors are asked to contact Bill MacDonald (613) 652-2307 (Iroquois-Matilda Lions Club) or Earl Wood (613) 543-3292 (Morrisburg and District Lions Club). 

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The Township of South Dundas moved forward with the action planning phase of their community strategic plan on May 30th at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners.

The South Dundas public was invited to participate in creating action plans based on the six key themes originally identified by the public during the community cafés held in March.

The six themes were:

• Implement beautification projects to strengthen our sense of pride and community;

• Strengthen South Dundas’ agricultural sector through partnerships with the tourism industry;

• Sustain South Dundas’ small town lifestyle through appropriate development;

• Support business expansion and job creation;

• Create a municipal identity that will celebrate South Dundas’ rich history and culture; and,

• Create recreational programs,  opportunities and facilities that will attract and retain families, children and youth.

Turnout for the action planning meetings was small, with approximately six people for the afternoon sessions and 10 for the evening sessions.

“I was certainly hoping for more people,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. 

“Hopefully, there’s a few others that will put some things online,” he continued, referring to the dedicated email address for strategic plan ideas (csp@southdundas.com). “There’s always an opportunity to send comments in.”

According to Sari Liem of Dillon Consulting, the firm hired to develop the plan, the idea behind the action planning is to “turn wishes into strategic direction.”

During the Community Cafés, public participants made wishes for the township. Liem explained, “we’re going through the wishes and building upon them, turning them into goals.” She referred to this as “informed direction.”

“We’re fleshing out specific actions,” she said. “This is all meant to be building blocks.”

The specific actions, once identified, were then put into a time frame of short term (0 to 2 years), mid term (3 to 5 years), and long term (6 to 10 years), with an emphasis on short term.  

Each of the six action planning groups followed this process when developing their plans. 

In addition to creating action plans, each group identified possible partnerships and alliances that might be pursued in making the actions a reality. 

Liem explained that the community strategic plan is a ‘living’ document, meaning that it is fluid and open to change at any time.

Reminded of past strategic plans and the failures to follow through on those plans, Byvelds emphasized that “we’re committed to at least trying our best to make this strategic plan work. It’s not going to sit on a shelf.”

Armed with the public’s ideas, Dillon Consulting will create a recommended vision statement for South Dundas. In addition to this, an implementation strategy, complete with a time line for action, will be provided.

When ready, Dillon Consulting will present the final report to council for approval and, following council’s approval, it will then be released to the public.

South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan pointed out that “we’re not doing this because we have a problem, we’re doing this to be proactive and plan for the future.”

[…]

According to Winchester District Memorial Hospital spokesperson, Jane Petricic it is unclear how an announcement made Monday, concerning changes to Ontario’s method of funding hospitals, will impact the local hospital.

“At this time, we don’t know anything more than is in the announcement,” said Petricic, Brainstorm Communications for WDMH. “We’re still awaiting additional details.”

According to Monday’s press release issued by the office of Ontario Premier, Dalton McGuinty, “Ontario is making changes to the way it funds hospitals to ensure families get access to the right health care, at the right time and in the right place.”

The new patient-based funding model will see hospitals funded based on how many patients they see, the services they deliver, the quality of those services and other specific community needs. Currently, hospitals get a lump sum based on their previous year’s budget with no link to the type or quality of care they provide.

Working in partnership with hospitals, Ontario will phase in the new patient-based funding model over the next three years. 

The new model will also provide a better return for taxpayer dollars and result in: shorter wait times and better access to care in their communities; more services, where they are needed; and, better quality care with less variation between hospitals.

Allowing health care funding to follow the patient instead of the hospital is part of the McGuinty government’s Action Plan for Health Care and builds upon the significant progress that has been made in improving Ontario’s health care system since 2003. 

According to Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, “our current funding model for hospitals is out of date and doesn’t reflect the needs of the communities they serve.  As part of our Action Plan we are implementing a system that funds hospitals to increase services where needed, deliver quality care more efficiently and serve more patients.”

March Rochon,  Interim CEO for the Ontario Hospital Association, said, “the Ontario Hospital Association has been a long-time supporter of patient-based payment because it has tremendous potential to align hospital funding with positive patient outcomes.”  

While 91 hospitals are transitioning to the patient-based funding model, 55 small hospitals will be excluded from the new model to recognize the unique role they play within their communities. 

Winchester District Memorial Hospital is not among the list of 55 hospitals excluded from the new model.

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