Month: May 2014

“Responsible government, which includes accessible and open communication to the taxpayers of South Dundas, is the basis of my platform,” said Leslie Disheau, who filed nomination papers for the deputy mayor’s seat in South Dundas May 15, at the South Dundas Municipal Centre. 

This will be Disheau’s first run at a municipal council seat, and her focus is on more than just South Dundas. 

That’s why she is choosing to take a run at the position of deputy mayor.

“Deputy mayor sits on county council and my focus includes this next tier of government,” said Disheau. 

“I want to have a seat where positive action and decisions can be made for not just South Dundas, but all of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. I see the big picture and how all parts interplay and add up to the sum. You can’t think that we are an island and operate on this premise.”

“My 10 years of actively volunteering and being engaged with public education and the Upper Canada District School Board has taught me to be at the front of the train,” says Disheau. “I am a person who wants to participate and be part of the team in the engine car, not the caboose.”

“I have 44 years of life experiences and education behind me. Not much different than anyone else who has sat at our municipal council table,” said Disheau when asked why she chose to take aim at one of the two top seats in her first foray into municipal politics. “We are common sense local people with a passion and love of our community who have decided to take on the tough job of serving the public.”

“I have no problem asking the difficult challenging questions and being prepared to debate the issues in fairness and respect to all parties,” adds Disheau. “I expect and encourage open communication because I don’t know everything and can only learn by having all sides sitting at the table discussing the issues.”

“The needs I value are those of my community, and my community is all of South Dundas, not just one section or interest group.”

Disheau is a lifelong resident of South Dundas. She is university educated, and an active community volunteer. 

She has long had every intention of running for school board trustee at some point, but the industrial wind turbine project near Brinston, which she actively opposed, changed the aim of her course to municipal council.

“It was a very difficult decision because my whole focus over the years has been on public education. But, like anything in life, ‘shift happens’, so take the ride and see where the adventure will lead you.”

When the South Branch Wind Opposition Group was dissolved in October 2013, Disheau announced publicly that she would run for a seat on South Dundas municipal council, but did not say which one.

Disheau’s nomination means that the deputy mayor’s seat is, so far, the only seat setting up to be officially contested in the 2014 South Dundas municipal election. This is likely to change before nominations close.

She and incumbent deputy mayor Jim Locke have both filed nomination papers for the deputy mayor’s position.

South Dundas councillor Evonne Delegarde has filed her nomination for mayor. Incumbent South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds, has yet to make public his election intentions.

Incumbent South Dundas councillors Archie Mellan and Jim Graham are both seeking re-election as councillors, as is former South Dundas councillor Bill Ewing. All nominations are subject to change until the nomination deadline in September.

[…]

While the public health department is concerned with threats to the overall health of the community, often the biggest threats to public health revolve around factors outside the realm of health care facilities.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, spoke with South Dundas council at the May 6 meeting about health data and trends across the province, Eastern Ontario and Dundas County.

According to the stats presented, this area has higher rates of chronic disease, more smokers, and more mental health issues.

Following his presentation, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds asked the doctor to provide council with some advice about actions council can take to help improve the health of this community.

Roumeliotis explained that the bulk of the determinants of health relate to social and economic factors, and that council needs to do all they can to remove barriers to ensure that the children of South Dundas get the best possible start in life.

Roumeliotis explained that according to the data, this area has a significant percentage of single parent families (11-12%) and the prevalence of poverty is quite high.

These factors are known to have a negative impact on childhood development, which in turn is known to lead to poorer longterm health.

“We need to concentrate on our youth by offering support to these mothers and their kids. Kids need to have the best possible start in life. That can really make a big difference,” said Roumeliotis.

“We need to recognize that the community environment translates into health, both good and bad health. You as a council help determine the health of the environment,” he said suggesting that an environment with plenty of free recreational opportunities promotes active living in a community.

[…]

Princess, Female shepherd mix, 4 years, raised as house dog, trained, friendly. Could be spayed. Gorgeous dog. 

Background with small children unknown. Great personality.

Zeus, 2.5 yrs. Male, 

husky/yellow Lab mix. Friendly, good personality, likes to play. Seems fine with other dogs. Background with 

small children unknown.

Hooch, Shih Tzu, male, 5 yrs. Friendly, neutered. For Hooch’s safety, family without young children recommended. Good with other dogs.  For info call foster mom, Linda, 613-657-1857.

[…]

The Victoria Day weekend kicks off the camping season with all eight of the Parks of the St. Lawrence campgrounds (Glengarry, Long Sault Parkway–McLaren, Mille Roches, Woodlands, Farran, Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary, Riverside-Cedar and Ivy Lea) opening on Friday, May 16.  

The campgrounds which are situated along the shores of the St. Lawrence River from Ivy Lea in the 1000 Islands through to Glengarry Park near Lancaster are showing strong reservations for the holiday weekend.  

 “Our parks offer some of Ontario’s most spectacular scenery. Each campground has a very distinct personality and unique features,” said Lou Seiler, Manager of Parks and Recreation. “We are continuing the renewal of our parks infrastructure, and I am confident our customers will enjoy the new amenities we have added.”

New Camper Cabins have been added (bringing the total cabin availability to 14) at McLaren Campground (The Aultsville) and at Riverside-Cedar Campground (Whip-poor-will and Hummingbird).  

The cabins offer a great opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature right at your doorstep while enjoying the comforts and security of a charming wooden cabin.  The cabins come furnished with beds, mattresses, refrigerator, microwave and barbecue, but  must bring some sleeping and dining essentials. 

McLaren Campground, largely considered to be the family campground has undergone a major renaissance over the past three years.  

More than half of its 206 sites have been upgraded to offer RV capacity with 30 and 50 amp electrical services. Plus, a number of pull-thru sites have been added.  

Four exclusive new waterfront sites have been added on Hoople Island on the Long Sault Parkway.  The sites were selected to take full advantage of the stunning sunrises and sunsets seen from this island.  

At Woodlands Campground, also located on the Long Sault Parkway, 30 new 50 amp sites have been added.  In the 1000 Islands, taking advantage of its unique location and spectacular views, 6 new ‘Castle View’ sites have been added at Brown’s Bay.  They are called ‘Castle View’ because of their magnificent view of Singer Castle.

 Recently, Scuba Diving Magazine included the dive site Lock 21 located on Macdonell Island on the Long Sault Parkway as ‘one of the planet’s best freshwater dives’ list.  

Lock 21 offers divers a shore dive where they can see the remnants of the lock which was built to circumvent the Long Sault Rapids along with old power generating systems, house foundations and bridges.

 “To local divers it will come as no surprise as they have experienced the wonders of this dive and they have seen the Lost Villages sitting in the depths of the St. Lawrence River,” said Seiler. “But for many residents or visitors who are more accustomed to staying on land or on top of the water, it is a confirmation of the uniqueness of this destination.”

The final phase of the revitalization of the 1000 Islands Recreational Trail along the 1000 Islands Parkway between Brockville and Gananoque will move forward this spring. 

[…]

 “Nancy has been on the job here at the St. Lawrence Clinic exactly one week,” laughed Dr. Paul Coolican. “We threw her in at the deep end on her first day, and she has done marvelously. We are very lucky to have Nancy with us.”

Nancy Bonaparte, a 21 year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, is the newest member of the Clinic health care team. She is a physician assistant, a highly trained individual, who will help optimize patient care in this area. 

“There are a little over 500 PAs in Canada at the moment,”  Nancy Bonaparte explained, “including in the military. We are generalists, whose role is that of physician extender. We are experienced in many fields of medicine and patient care from ear, nose and throat care to chronic diseases, like diabetes, care. We are also trained in obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, geriatrics and trauma medicine.”

PA Bonaparte will be joining other allied health care professionals at the Clinic. A part time social worker will soon be hired as well as a mental health counsellor.

“The majority of our funding for these new personnel comes from a program set up by the Minister of Health,” Dr. Coolican said. “We competed with 140 groups for this funding and we were only one of 13 in the province who received it. It is a great boost, and allows us to provide extended services. And with the bigger offices in the new facilities in Morrisburg and Iroquois, we now have the space for allied health care people.”

The physician assistant is a relatively new field in civilian health care. PAs originated in the Canadian Forces where they were introduced as mid-level clinicians. 

Bonaparte retired from the military as a PA in 2007. Her goal was to take part in the civilian PA pilot project being introduced in Ontario. A key goal of that project is to cut down on wait times in Emergency services, long term care facilities, community health services and hospitals.

Physician assistants perform vital services for medical professionals and for patients alike. Some of their functions include conducting physical exams, diagnosing and treating illness, ordering and interpreting tests, then developing treatment  plans, counseling preventative care, assisting in surgery and writing prescriptions.

“We always work under a doctor’s supervision,” Bonaparte said. “The doctor is either working side by side with us, or on the phone. We do have a scope of practice within which to work. If a patient situation is outside our scope, or very complex, we can confer directly with the doctor, who can then intervene or advise us  immediately on what steps to take.”

Physician assistants must be rigorously trained academically and formally educated. Bonaparte holds an MPAS, a Masters in Physician Assistant in her specialty, geriatrics. She served four and a half years in Kingston  in a pilot project which included long term care.

“Long term care has always been an interest of mine,” she explained. “But when I was fully exposed to it, well, I fell in love with this aspect of medicine.”

“Nancy has a lot of experience in long term care,” Dr. Coolican said. “It is always a challenge for any physician to get to long term care facilities on a consistent, regular basis. Nancy will provide continuity for patients at facilities like Woodland Villa, where she is already working almost half her day. Having a PA on site makes patients feel listened to and well cared for in a place where they already feel comfortable.”

Dr. Coolican explained that PAs like Nancy are a “wonderful” back up support to doctors. “A PA can often cut emergency runs for patients in long term care, and her presence permits treatments to begin immediately.”

He also pointed out that having Nancy on staff will allow the clinic to cope with “same days”, or patients who must be seen right away, and not in a few days. 

PA Bonaparte is commuting from Kanata. She is tremendously excited to be getting back into long term care. “People in this area are really welcoming and helpful,” she said. “It’s nice to be working where people are excited that you’re here. It is great for me to be in at the launch of a new program.”

“I think the PA program is going to be a growing area of health care,” said Dr. Coolican. “We are very fortunate that Nancy Bonaparte has chosen to come to  our community to work.”

[…]