As published in The Erin Advocate
Barbara Harrison wanted to do more than just help Syrian refugees as they arrive in Canada. After seeing some of these victims of war while travelling in Greece last fall, she looked for a way to make a practical and personal contribution to the relief effort.
“It makes you feel like there’s nothing you can do – it’s such a big problem,” she said. “But there is so much we can do.”
The Erin resident has now travelled to the Greek island of Lesvos, where many Syrians land after a perilous sea voyage, to work as a volunteer with local agencies. She will be there with her friend Denise Bates from Tennessee until January 17.
“I’m sure it will be a profound experience,” she said.
Harrison is part of the Transition Erin group and her trip was highlighted at their recent fundraising event, An Evening of Dickens. About $10,000 was raised, with most going towards a sponsorship in Mono. But more than $1,000 will go to Harrison’s project, for medical supplies, food, clothing, blankets and direct aid to “boots on the ground” agencies in Greece.
“We want to support the Greek economy and spend the money there,” said Harrison. She and Bates have raised about $2,000 through online crowdsourcing (Act4Lesvos2016 on generosity.com). They are paying their own travel, accommodation and other expenses.
The situation on Lesvos can be chaotic, as officials struggle to provide food and shelter in makeshift refugee camps. The island is the shortest crossing point from Turkey on the trip to northern Europe, and refugees are expected to stay only a few months.
Local aid groups are operating without central coordination and without strong backing from international agencies. The island has only 86,000 residents and they have been overwhelmed in 2015 – sometimes with more than 1,000 refugees per day.
“While I've worked with refugees for 20 years, I personally have never seen such a human crisis as intense as this one,” said Bates, on their fundraising site. “We are a global community. We should have each other's backs.”
Harrison expects to be doing manual work – washing clothes, moving supplies in warehouses, delivering meals, looking after children and providing transportation. She does not speak Greek, Arabic or Farsi, but does not expect to have any trouble finding English speakers to help with translation.
Apart from the assistance they can deliver, the travellers have a professional interest in the refugee crisis. The experience will serve as research for an academic paper on grassroots assistance for refugees.
Bates’ background is in Public Health, and Harrison taught previously at the University of Guelph. She has been involved in promoting the idea of learning through service and community engagement, and has offered a course on the Canadian Refugee Sponsorship Program.
After Harrison returns, Transition Erin will host an evening for her to share stories about the trip. It will be held on Monday, January 25, from 7 pm to 9 pm, in the lower hall at All Saints Church, 81 Main Street in Erin. It will also be an opportunity for local groups to explore ways of working together to offer more support to Syrian refugees.
Harrison is hopeful that the Erin community will be able to organize enough support to sponsor a refugee family.
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
January 06, 2016
December 02, 2015
Bill Dinwoody an advocate for health and recreation
As published in The Erin Advocate
Erin has lost a strong advocate for community health care and recreation services.
Bill Dinwoody, 73, chair of the Recreation and Culture Committee and the Erin Trails group, passed away on November 20 after a brief illness. He is mourned by his beloved wife Martha, and children Thomas, Johanna and Shana.
“He was thoughtful, kind and soft-spoken,” said Joan Fisk, Chair of the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). “He gave great advice and had a deep feeling for community health care.”
Dinwoody was to retire this month from his service on the LHIN Board of Directors, which administers funding for hospitals, long-term care, community agencies and home care. He was on the Finance Committee, working to improve efficiency and accountability in the local system, which serves 775,000 residents.
“He was a very positive person – an important citizen who will be sorely missed,” said Mayor Al Alls. A memorial service was held on November 28 at Butcher Family Funeral Home.
Dinwoody was a senior manager at the Royal Bank of Canada, and had retired after a 45-year career. He managed the strategic technology planning and development function, and served on national and international committees to develop a strategic technological direction for the banking industry.
Erin has lost a strong advocate for community health care and recreation services.
Bill Dinwoody, 73, chair of the Recreation and Culture Committee and the Erin Trails group, passed away on November 20 after a brief illness. He is mourned by his beloved wife Martha, and children Thomas, Johanna and Shana.“He was thoughtful, kind and soft-spoken,” said Joan Fisk, Chair of the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). “He gave great advice and had a deep feeling for community health care.”
Dinwoody was to retire this month from his service on the LHIN Board of Directors, which administers funding for hospitals, long-term care, community agencies and home care. He was on the Finance Committee, working to improve efficiency and accountability in the local system, which serves 775,000 residents.
“He was a very positive person – an important citizen who will be sorely missed,” said Mayor Al Alls. A memorial service was held on November 28 at Butcher Family Funeral Home.
Dinwoody was a senior manager at the Royal Bank of Canada, and had retired after a 45-year career. He managed the strategic technology planning and development function, and served on national and international committees to develop a strategic technological direction for the banking industry.
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Bill Dinwoody helping out on CVC’s Check Your Watershed Day, measuring temperatures in the West Credit River, making sketches of bridges and looking for obstacles to the movement of fish. |
He lived formerly in Toronto and Shelburne, and had a passion for outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding and fishing. He had been a scout leader, a ski instructor, a Sunday school teacher, a guitar player and a wood carver.
He was very active with Credit Valley Conservation, which honoured him with awards for his work on the Woollen Mills Trail and organizing tree planting projects.
Providing leadership on the Erin Trails group, he also helped develop the Rotary and Water Tower Trails, as well as Riverside Park, which had its official opening this year.
With Recreation and Culture, he was an advocate for the Skatepark that was built next to the Centre 2000 arena.
He was very active with Credit Valley Conservation, which honoured him with awards for his work on the Woollen Mills Trail and organizing tree planting projects.
Providing leadership on the Erin Trails group, he also helped develop the Rotary and Water Tower Trails, as well as Riverside Park, which had its official opening this year.
With Recreation and Culture, he was an advocate for the Skatepark that was built next to the Centre 2000 arena.
April 22, 2015
Improvements for end-of-life health care
As published in The Erin Advocate
The certainty of eventual death may bind us all together, but thinking about how and where we would prefer it to happen is a difficult process. Actually discussing our choices for end-of-life health care with family and friends is even harder.
The Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN) Board of Directors has approved an investment of $1.2 million over three years to help individuals create a personal Advance Care Plan (ACP) – while they are still capable of doing so.
Health care workers will be trained to give patients and families an opportunity to consider what medical and social care a person would prefer, or refuse, during a crisis or period of time when death is expected. An ACP is a holistic record of a person’s needs and wishes, in a standardized format that is consistent with Ontario law.
“Improving end-of-life care is a significant priority,” said WWLHIN Chair Joan Fisk. “One of the key components of improving this care is engaging more residents in a conversation about their end-of-life care wishes.”
The initiative will be led by the Hospice of Waterloo Region, but apply to all of Wellington County as well.
According to a 2013 survey, 55% of Canadians had never had a discussion with a family member, doctor, lawyer, friend or financial advisor about their end-of-life care preferences.
“We know that when asked, many residents would prefer to die at home surrounded by their loved ones rather than in hospital,” said Bruce Lauckner, CEO at the WWLHIN.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t happening as often as it could. Improving Advance Care Planning practices in Waterloo Wellington will help more residents experience the end-of-life care that best matches their wishes.”
While a majority of people say they want to die at home, about 70% die in a hospital.
Dying at home may appear preferable, but in some cases it is not practical for providing the care and comfort that a person may need. Hospices can provide a good alternative, but there are only 271 hospice beds in Ontario. The Auditor-General says 1,080 are needed.
Clearly, as part of its mandate, the LHIN is spending money in hopes of saving even more. Dying in a hospital is an expensive process, and as the baby boom goes bust, there will be a huge strain on the health care system.
According to a report by Health Quality Ontario, by 2026, the number of Canadians dying will increase by 40%, to 330,000 every year. Of hospitalized Canadian elderly, 70% reported wanting comfort measures rather than life-prolonging treatment, but more than two-thirds were admitted to intensive care units.
The Auditor-General recently reported that palliative care costs $1,100 per day in an acute-care hospital bed, $630 to $770 daily in a palliative-care unit, $460 in a standalone hospice, and about $100 when at-home care is provided.
The process of dying will never be an easy one, but it is within the capacity of our health system to provide consistency in the provision of high quality palliative care for everyone who needs it, and better support for families in their time of need.
The certainty of eventual death may bind us all together, but thinking about how and where we would prefer it to happen is a difficult process. Actually discussing our choices for end-of-life health care with family and friends is even harder.
The Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN) Board of Directors has approved an investment of $1.2 million over three years to help individuals create a personal Advance Care Plan (ACP) – while they are still capable of doing so.
Health care workers will be trained to give patients and families an opportunity to consider what medical and social care a person would prefer, or refuse, during a crisis or period of time when death is expected. An ACP is a holistic record of a person’s needs and wishes, in a standardized format that is consistent with Ontario law.
“Improving end-of-life care is a significant priority,” said WWLHIN Chair Joan Fisk. “One of the key components of improving this care is engaging more residents in a conversation about their end-of-life care wishes.”
The initiative will be led by the Hospice of Waterloo Region, but apply to all of Wellington County as well.
According to a 2013 survey, 55% of Canadians had never had a discussion with a family member, doctor, lawyer, friend or financial advisor about their end-of-life care preferences.
“We know that when asked, many residents would prefer to die at home surrounded by their loved ones rather than in hospital,” said Bruce Lauckner, CEO at the WWLHIN.
“Unfortunately, this isn’t happening as often as it could. Improving Advance Care Planning practices in Waterloo Wellington will help more residents experience the end-of-life care that best matches their wishes.”
While a majority of people say they want to die at home, about 70% die in a hospital.
Dying at home may appear preferable, but in some cases it is not practical for providing the care and comfort that a person may need. Hospices can provide a good alternative, but there are only 271 hospice beds in Ontario. The Auditor-General says 1,080 are needed.
Clearly, as part of its mandate, the LHIN is spending money in hopes of saving even more. Dying in a hospital is an expensive process, and as the baby boom goes bust, there will be a huge strain on the health care system.
According to a report by Health Quality Ontario, by 2026, the number of Canadians dying will increase by 40%, to 330,000 every year. Of hospitalized Canadian elderly, 70% reported wanting comfort measures rather than life-prolonging treatment, but more than two-thirds were admitted to intensive care units.
The Auditor-General recently reported that palliative care costs $1,100 per day in an acute-care hospital bed, $630 to $770 daily in a palliative-care unit, $460 in a standalone hospice, and about $100 when at-home care is provided.
The process of dying will never be an easy one, but it is within the capacity of our health system to provide consistency in the provision of high quality palliative care for everyone who needs it, and better support for families in their time of need.
December 31, 2014
Exchange program reduces fentanyl misuse
As published in The Erin Advocate
In an effort to reduce the black market supply of the lethal prescription drug fentanyl, Wellington County is promoting an exchange program that requires patients to return all their used medication patches before getting new ones from a pharmacist.
Modeled on a successful program in North Bay, it is an initiative of the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy (WGDS), which tries to reduce substance misuse through prevention, treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement.
“There is a lot of concern because of the lethality of the drug,” said WGDS Manager Adrienne Crowder, noting that the patch exchange reduces risks to individuals and the community. “The program creates a partnership between patients, doctors and pharmacists. It’s a more connected care pathway that is good for everyone.”
Use of the program is optional for pharmacists and doctors, but WGDS is urging them to participate. The County has produced a video on the issue, created by Ironcloud Productions of Hillsburgh, which can be accessed at www.wellington.ca or through a “fentanyl patch” search on YouTube.
It says police and health care providers in Guelph and Wellington are seeing increased misuse of the drug. It includes a first-person account of a recovering addict, an 18-year-old girl who started by taking painkillers from the family medicine cabinet at age 14, then moved on to stronger substances. Addicts may end up selling their possessions and resorting to crime in order to buy more of the drug.
In North Bay, where fentanyl addition was a particularly severe problem, a patch exchange program has made the drug much more difficult to obtain on the street – forcing dealers to import it from other areas.
In October, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli proposed a private members bill that would mandate the Patch-for-Patch program for pharmacies across Ontario. Patients who do not return their used patches undamaged would have to provide an explanation, and their doctor could refuse to authorize a further supply.
Known by the brand name Duragesic, fentanyl is a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. It was originally an operating room drug and a treatment for terminally-ill patients, but is now used for various types of chronic pain.
In 2011, it caused 102 overdose deaths in Ontario. It has come into wider use since then, after the Canadian government pulled OxyContin from pharmacy shelves in 2012, due to its high level of abuse. Fentanyl is intended for slow release through a patch over 72 hours, but addicts remove the drug from the patch so it can be smoked, injected, chewed or made into pills. Police say its potency is dangerously unpredictable.
It has become a street commodity, with some addicts stealing patches from legal users or retrieving used patches from garbage cans to get a residual amount of the drug.
Even legal use of the drug is risky, with 30 million tablets or patches of high-dose opioids (oxycodone and fentanyl) dispensed in Canada annually from 2006 to 2011. Statistics Canada estimates that approximately 1 in 10 Canadians suffers from a chronic pain condition.
A six-year study led by Tara Gomes at St. Michael’s Hospital, reported in the November, 2014 issue of Canadian Family Physician, showed that with Canada and the US leading the world in high-dose opioid prescriptions, Ontario had the highest rate of fentanyl dispensing – 112 patches annually per 1,000 population.
Some researchers believe it is being over-prescribed, with little evidence of safety or effectiveness at high doses, and with wide variations in provincial guidelines for doctors.
Methadone is used to treat addiction to heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, percocet and morphine, blocking their euphoric effects and reducing withdrawal symptoms. Guelph has four methadone clinics; Orangeville has one and Georgetown will have one this January. Addicts can also be treated in residential rehabilitation programs, but there are waiting lists.
In an effort to reduce the black market supply of the lethal prescription drug fentanyl, Wellington County is promoting an exchange program that requires patients to return all their used medication patches before getting new ones from a pharmacist.
Modeled on a successful program in North Bay, it is an initiative of the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy (WGDS), which tries to reduce substance misuse through prevention, treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement.
“There is a lot of concern because of the lethality of the drug,” said WGDS Manager Adrienne Crowder, noting that the patch exchange reduces risks to individuals and the community. “The program creates a partnership between patients, doctors and pharmacists. It’s a more connected care pathway that is good for everyone.”
Use of the program is optional for pharmacists and doctors, but WGDS is urging them to participate. The County has produced a video on the issue, created by Ironcloud Productions of Hillsburgh, which can be accessed at www.wellington.ca or through a “fentanyl patch” search on YouTube.
It says police and health care providers in Guelph and Wellington are seeing increased misuse of the drug. It includes a first-person account of a recovering addict, an 18-year-old girl who started by taking painkillers from the family medicine cabinet at age 14, then moved on to stronger substances. Addicts may end up selling their possessions and resorting to crime in order to buy more of the drug.
In North Bay, where fentanyl addition was a particularly severe problem, a patch exchange program has made the drug much more difficult to obtain on the street – forcing dealers to import it from other areas.
In October, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli proposed a private members bill that would mandate the Patch-for-Patch program for pharmacies across Ontario. Patients who do not return their used patches undamaged would have to provide an explanation, and their doctor could refuse to authorize a further supply.
Known by the brand name Duragesic, fentanyl is a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin. It was originally an operating room drug and a treatment for terminally-ill patients, but is now used for various types of chronic pain.
In 2011, it caused 102 overdose deaths in Ontario. It has come into wider use since then, after the Canadian government pulled OxyContin from pharmacy shelves in 2012, due to its high level of abuse. Fentanyl is intended for slow release through a patch over 72 hours, but addicts remove the drug from the patch so it can be smoked, injected, chewed or made into pills. Police say its potency is dangerously unpredictable.
It has become a street commodity, with some addicts stealing patches from legal users or retrieving used patches from garbage cans to get a residual amount of the drug.
Even legal use of the drug is risky, with 30 million tablets or patches of high-dose opioids (oxycodone and fentanyl) dispensed in Canada annually from 2006 to 2011. Statistics Canada estimates that approximately 1 in 10 Canadians suffers from a chronic pain condition.
A six-year study led by Tara Gomes at St. Michael’s Hospital, reported in the November, 2014 issue of Canadian Family Physician, showed that with Canada and the US leading the world in high-dose opioid prescriptions, Ontario had the highest rate of fentanyl dispensing – 112 patches annually per 1,000 population.
Some researchers believe it is being over-prescribed, with little evidence of safety or effectiveness at high doses, and with wide variations in provincial guidelines for doctors.
Methadone is used to treat addiction to heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, percocet and morphine, blocking their euphoric effects and reducing withdrawal symptoms. Guelph has four methadone clinics; Orangeville has one and Georgetown will have one this January. Addicts can also be treated in residential rehabilitation programs, but there are waiting lists.
December 03, 2014
Emergency Info Vials save time in a crisis
As published in The Erin Advocate
Storing a vial of crucial medical information in your refrigerator could help paramedics to quickly provide the care needed in a crisis – and perhaps save your life.
The Emergency Information Vials are being offered free of charge to residents in the Erin-Eramosa area through the efforts of volunteers with the Town of Erin Community Oriented Policing Committee.
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Allen Welke of Erin’s Community Oriented
Policing Committee
(at back) joined participants in the Centre 2000 Adult Day
Program
and Sherri Plourde, Manager of Senior Services with
East Wellington
Community Services for the launch
of the Emergency Information Vial program.
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The free kits contain a plastic bottle, special stickers for the refrigerator and front door, and a medical form where you would list your emergency contact person and details about your medications and medical conditions.
Having the vial accessible on the door inside the refrigerator will give police and ambulance personnel a head start in assessing the situation and arranging the treatment you need. The information will also save time for hospital emergency room staff.
Each person in the household would fill out their own copy of the medical form, which could include details about having diabetes, an allergy to penicillin or use of a pacemaker.
Allen Welke of the COP Committee said that Jones Packaging of London, which manufacturers the vials, has donated 500 of them to help get the program started.
The Committee will be arranging to distribute the kits through various community sources, but anyone wanting one now should phone East Wellington Community Services at 519-833-9696 or drop in at 45 Main Street in Erin.
Erin’s COP Committee deals with various issues of safety and protection of property, and normally meets on the first Wednesday of each month at Centre 2000 at 7pm. All meetings are open to the public. Go to www.erin.ca to confirm meeting dates and access links to a wide variety of Ontario Provincial Police resources.
November 19, 2014
Local focus will help build up community
As published in The Erin Advocate
There was a lot of talk during the election campaign about kicking some fresh energy into the Erin economy. With Christmas approaching, there are opportunities to take action that will strengthen the community.
One aspect is local shopping. You can only have a quaint shopping district if there is a critical mass of activity and the stores have enough revenue to survive. It is not a matter of charity, but of giving them the chance to compete.
So I urge people to walk around, talk to business owners, check out what’s available, go out for dinner, and try to do at least $50 worth of Christmas shopping within Erin. It’s all well and good to bring in new business investment, but the top priority has to be preserving and expanding what we have.
Another aspect may be called charity, but that too is really a local investment. By helping people through hard times, we improve everyone’s quality of life, build community awareness and cycle money through the local economy. And when our economy gets stronger, there will be less need for services like food banks.
There are lots of ways to volunteer and make donations, many of them organized by East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) and the various clubs and churches that contribute to its programs.
Despite living in a wealthy nation, some 842,000 Canadians got help from a food bank in March this year. That’s up only 1% since last year, but up 25% since 2008. Click here to access HungerCount 2014.
Demand continues to increase at the local Food Bank. They have helped 1,088 people (including family members) so far this year, distributing 39,596 pounds of food – the equivalent of $99,000 at the grocery store – and the year is far from over.
Station 10 Firefighters are holding their 10th Annual Food Drive and Barbecue on November 22 and 23, 10 am to 2 pm at Marc’s Valu-mart.
The Brighten Up Toy and Game Shop at 67 Main Street is holding its 3rd Annual Toy Drive on November 22, 11 am to 3 pm, supporting EWCS efforts to provide Christmas cheer to local families, seniors and single people in need.
“Times are definitely tough at Christmas for many of our client families who are already struggling with a limited budget,” said Erika Westcott, EWCS Manager of Marketing and Fund Development.
EWCS will launch its annual Christmas appeal on December 2. Last year they surpassed their target of $25,000, and will be shooting for the same amount this year. They’ll also be promoting their new, more accessible website.
The agency had been investigating the idea of a community kitchen, but it was an expensive project that really wasn’t wanted by clients. They have been able to follow through with some workshops on how to make nutritious meals at low cost.
The Adopt-A-Family Christmas program provides donors with several ways to help. Anonymous sponsorship of families with children 16 and under is coordinated by The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. Clients provide a wish list and donors are asked to provide some gifts (including something small for the parents) and a $25 grocery gift card for each family member.
The EWCS office coordinates sponsorship of seniors, adults of youths over 16. Donors can team up with friends or fellow members of various groups to co-sponsor a family. People can also contribute to food hampers that ensure clients get a Christmas dinner and Christmas morning breakfast. And of course, donations of food or any amount of money are appreciated at any time of the year.
“Everything that comes in is used – the focus is on the clients,” said Westcott. There’s more information at www.eastwellingtoncommunityservices.com, or call 519-833-9696.
There was a lot of talk during the election campaign about kicking some fresh energy into the Erin economy. With Christmas approaching, there are opportunities to take action that will strengthen the community.
One aspect is local shopping. You can only have a quaint shopping district if there is a critical mass of activity and the stores have enough revenue to survive. It is not a matter of charity, but of giving them the chance to compete.
So I urge people to walk around, talk to business owners, check out what’s available, go out for dinner, and try to do at least $50 worth of Christmas shopping within Erin. It’s all well and good to bring in new business investment, but the top priority has to be preserving and expanding what we have.
Another aspect may be called charity, but that too is really a local investment. By helping people through hard times, we improve everyone’s quality of life, build community awareness and cycle money through the local economy. And when our economy gets stronger, there will be less need for services like food banks.
There are lots of ways to volunteer and make donations, many of them organized by East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) and the various clubs and churches that contribute to its programs.
Despite living in a wealthy nation, some 842,000 Canadians got help from a food bank in March this year. That’s up only 1% since last year, but up 25% since 2008. Click here to access HungerCount 2014.
Demand continues to increase at the local Food Bank. They have helped 1,088 people (including family members) so far this year, distributing 39,596 pounds of food – the equivalent of $99,000 at the grocery store – and the year is far from over.
Station 10 Firefighters are holding their 10th Annual Food Drive and Barbecue on November 22 and 23, 10 am to 2 pm at Marc’s Valu-mart.
The Brighten Up Toy and Game Shop at 67 Main Street is holding its 3rd Annual Toy Drive on November 22, 11 am to 3 pm, supporting EWCS efforts to provide Christmas cheer to local families, seniors and single people in need.
“Times are definitely tough at Christmas for many of our client families who are already struggling with a limited budget,” said Erika Westcott, EWCS Manager of Marketing and Fund Development.
EWCS will launch its annual Christmas appeal on December 2. Last year they surpassed their target of $25,000, and will be shooting for the same amount this year. They’ll also be promoting their new, more accessible website.
The agency had been investigating the idea of a community kitchen, but it was an expensive project that really wasn’t wanted by clients. They have been able to follow through with some workshops on how to make nutritious meals at low cost.
The Adopt-A-Family Christmas program provides donors with several ways to help. Anonymous sponsorship of families with children 16 and under is coordinated by The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. Clients provide a wish list and donors are asked to provide some gifts (including something small for the parents) and a $25 grocery gift card for each family member.
The EWCS office coordinates sponsorship of seniors, adults of youths over 16. Donors can team up with friends or fellow members of various groups to co-sponsor a family. People can also contribute to food hampers that ensure clients get a Christmas dinner and Christmas morning breakfast. And of course, donations of food or any amount of money are appreciated at any time of the year.
“Everything that comes in is used – the focus is on the clients,” said Westcott. There’s more information at www.eastwellingtoncommunityservices.com, or call 519-833-9696.
October 29, 2014
Conservation Conversation for rural residents
As published in Sideroads Magazine
A new social media website will allow rural landowners to share their expertise, building a network of people who care about preserving the countryside.
The Countryside Stewardship Connection is a project of Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), supported by a $30,000 grant from the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.
It provides residents with an interactive online tool to engage in dialogue, post events, read success stories and ask for advice. Businesses and community groups can become partners and display information on the site as well.
Shannon Lem, CVC Program Assistant for Landowner Outreach, said there is a need to provide better support for non-farm rural residents, who don’t have the strong organizations that benefit farmers.
“We saw the opportunity to create something on-line for rural landowners within the Credit River watershed where they could really talk to each other and share all the things that they’ve learned over their years of caring for their own properties,” she said. The forum will also make it easy for people to access CVC staff expertise.
“In this age of social media, there’s a growing expectation that we can access people and information in a much faster way. Primarily, it’s intended to be a spot to foster community engagement,” she said.
Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Greenbelt Foundation, says the site will “build strong connections across the Greenbelt”, with CVC making the platform available to other interested conservation authorities.
The address is www.csconnection.ca, accessible via cell phone, tablet or computer. Conversations are grouped into 17 general forums such as Gardens & Landscaping, Wells, Septic Systems, Grasslands, Local Food, Ponds and Wetlands. The first question under Pollinators was about the Rusty-patched bumble bee, an endangered species in Ontario.
The first topic under Grasslands was the Bird-Friendly Certified Hay Program, supporting the declining populations of bobolink and eastern meadowlark, which nest in grasslands and are threatened by habitat loss. Hay growers who agree to delay their first cutting until July 15 enable the young birds to mature and leave their nests.
CVC hosts a web page for hay producers and buyers, promoting certified hay as a niche product that can create an advantage in the marketplace among environment-conscious consumers.
The on-line Connection project is just one part of CVC’s Countryside Stewardship Program. In 2014, there has been a series of Twilight Tours, covering topics such as the benefits of stream restoration and the value of agricultural cover crops. One session at the Ken Whillans Resource Management Area in Caledon dealt with management of invasive plant species, one of many areas where CVC offers free consultation, with financial assistance for plant removal and site restoration.
Another event showed landowners how to create gardens that specifically benefit plant pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps and beetles.
“Many pollinators, particularly bees, are in decline due to human activity and habitat loss,” said Mike Puddister, Director of Restoration and Stewardship at CVC. “Native plants provide habitat and food for these important species, improving the overall health of the environment.”
CVC also has regulatory authority over land use that affects wetlands and streams, and landowners are sometimes upset when they are restricted in what they can build or change on their property.
“Overcoming distrust or negative impressions is often really about creating a dialogue, and through communication, misunderstandings are very frequently sorted out,” said Lem.
“Our stewardship staff strive to engage with landowners in a meaningful way so that we can build positive relationships. I know people don’t like to be told what they can and can’t do on their property. And it is theirs, but only to the point that we can own something that we all share. Our natural resources are shared, and we all have a shared responsibility to protect those resources. That is always our goal. We’re not trying to put obstacles in people’s way.”
Conservation Authorities are on the front lines when it comes to dealing with the effects of climate change and more frequent severe storms. In urban areas, CVC promotes Low Impact Development to cushion the impact of stormwater, while in rural areas the goals are similar – reducing erosion, stream contamination and surface water volume.
CVC’s stewardship efforts are part of a broader movement, including the Stewardship Network of Ontario and the Ontario Biodiversity Council, dedicated to preserving long-term sustainable use of lands and waters that are threatened by human development and climate change.
With 90% of land in the watershed privately owned, the cooperation of owners is critical to the success of conservation efforts. Farmers have traditionally considered themselves stewards of the land, while many non-farm rural residents have moved to the country with an interest in preserving the attractive natural environment.
CVC can be a partner, providing not only scientific advice, but also funding that can make conservation projects affordable. A new grant program called the Landowner Action Fund is expected this fall, supporting a wide range of improvements not directly related to farming.
There is an ongoing series of workshops where residents get a copy of “Your Guide to Caring for the Credit”, and assistance in creating personalized property plans to protect the integrity of their land and water.
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Brian Boyd, CVC Forestry Planting Project Coordinator, takes
members of the public on a forest tour during a Tree ID Workshop.
Photo courtesy of CVC.
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For rural non-farm residents of Erin and north Caledon, the CVC Stewardship contact is Holly Nadalin, while in south Caledon it is Alison Qua-Enno. Extensive information, including a Landowner Resource Centre, is available at the CVC website, www.creditvalleyca.ca, in the section called “Your Land and Water”.
Program Coordinator Mark Eastman is part of the CVC effort to build trusting relationships with farmers. In July, Ontario Nature awarded him the J.R. Dymond Public Service Award for his environmental achievements. He has led numerous private land stewardship initiatives, including pasture and manure management, invasive species control, wetland fencing and wildlife habitat protection. Under Healthy Lands for Healthy Horses, landowners are connected to funding and service providers for the implementation of best management practices.
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| Mark Eastman |
These include up to $10,000 for barnyard runoff control, irrigation management, milkhouse washwater disposal, erosion control and tree planting, $20,000 for fencing livestock away from environmentally sensitive features, or enhancing natural areas, and $25,000 for manure storage systems. Well capping is available directly through the Region of Peel for all landowners.
The Greenbelt Foundation has also funded the placement of signs along trails in Caledon and Erin in an effort to educate people about the efforts farmers have made to reduce their impact on the environment. These include Nutrient Management Plans, keeping animals out of streams and development of buffer strip vegetation to reduce runoff of soil, manure, fertilizers and pesticides. Learn more at www.caringfortheland.com.
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| Upper Credit Conservation Area near Alton, showing the streambank buffer zones of vegetation that reduce erosion. |
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A horse farm next to Erin village, with the
Elora-Cataract Trailway running beside it. |
September 17, 2014
EWCS holds 30-year celebration
As published in The Erin Advocate
Members of East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) were thanked last week, and reminded of the importance of maintaining Canada’s social safety net, by someone who was helped to great success by the system.
Joe Roberts, known as the Skid Row CEO, spoke at the 30th Anniversary Celebration following the EWCS Annual Meeting at the Legion Hall. It also included a Walk Down Memory Lane, with photos from the agency’s history.
“A sense of humour is the best weapon against adversity,” said Roberts, now a successful author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. He told of a period in his life when alcohol and drugs provided temporary protection from his troubles, but trapped him in a difficult street life in East Vancouver.
“I leaned heavily on resources in the community for food and clothes,” he said. “I was loved where I was at and not rejected. They took me as I was. There was a seed of possibility, as a space I could move into.”
With the help of many people, especially his mother, he was successful in rehabilitation, education and eventually the business world. It started with a prayer and a promise that if he got a chance at success, he would pay it forward and “do something for the next guy”.
EWCS paid tribute at the annual meeting to its volunteers, including the board members. Mary Ellen Miller and Deanna MacKay are retiring, as is President Allan Alls, turning the reins over to Brett Davis. New members are Wayne Stickley, Brad Boland and Bob Porter.
Alls touched on some recent EWCS highlights including increased funding support, increased staff pay and research into new youth programs.
The event had started with some controversy when member Jane Vandervliet rose on a point of order to challenge the legality of the meeting. She said that the board had failed to have updates to corporate bylaws approved by the members at last year’s Annual Meeting, and that notification of recent efforts to correct the situation did not come in the proper form and time frame.
Alls acknowledged the bylaw problem, but argued that it was not practical to defer the issue to a future meeting. Members voted to carry on with the meeting. CEO Kari Simpson provided an overview of the changes to the bylaws and members voted to accept them.
Financial Statements show that EWCS had total assets of $613,583 as of March 31, 2014. Salaries and employment benefits were the major cost at $510,688, followed by occupancy costs at $46,624. Total expenses were $774,241.
Revenue came from numerous sources, including the Ministry of Health at $197,392, Ontario Early Years at $144,072, fundraising, events and general donations at $122,482, retail sales at $82,101, Guelph-Wellington United Way at $70,049, Seniors Program income at $51,727, Wellington County at $29,325, the Township of Guelph Eramosa at $16,000 and the Town of Erin at $13,302. Total revenue was $768,756, an increase of $44,953 compared to 2013.
Members of East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) were thanked last week, and reminded of the importance of maintaining Canada’s social safety net, by someone who was helped to great success by the system.
Joe Roberts, known as the Skid Row CEO, spoke at the 30th Anniversary Celebration following the EWCS Annual Meeting at the Legion Hall. It also included a Walk Down Memory Lane, with photos from the agency’s history.
“A sense of humour is the best weapon against adversity,” said Roberts, now a successful author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker. He told of a period in his life when alcohol and drugs provided temporary protection from his troubles, but trapped him in a difficult street life in East Vancouver.
“I leaned heavily on resources in the community for food and clothes,” he said. “I was loved where I was at and not rejected. They took me as I was. There was a seed of possibility, as a space I could move into.”
With the help of many people, especially his mother, he was successful in rehabilitation, education and eventually the business world. It started with a prayer and a promise that if he got a chance at success, he would pay it forward and “do something for the next guy”.
EWCS paid tribute at the annual meeting to its volunteers, including the board members. Mary Ellen Miller and Deanna MacKay are retiring, as is President Allan Alls, turning the reins over to Brett Davis. New members are Wayne Stickley, Brad Boland and Bob Porter.
Alls touched on some recent EWCS highlights including increased funding support, increased staff pay and research into new youth programs.
The event had started with some controversy when member Jane Vandervliet rose on a point of order to challenge the legality of the meeting. She said that the board had failed to have updates to corporate bylaws approved by the members at last year’s Annual Meeting, and that notification of recent efforts to correct the situation did not come in the proper form and time frame.
Alls acknowledged the bylaw problem, but argued that it was not practical to defer the issue to a future meeting. Members voted to carry on with the meeting. CEO Kari Simpson provided an overview of the changes to the bylaws and members voted to accept them.
Financial Statements show that EWCS had total assets of $613,583 as of March 31, 2014. Salaries and employment benefits were the major cost at $510,688, followed by occupancy costs at $46,624. Total expenses were $774,241.
Revenue came from numerous sources, including the Ministry of Health at $197,392, Ontario Early Years at $144,072, fundraising, events and general donations at $122,482, retail sales at $82,101, Guelph-Wellington United Way at $70,049, Seniors Program income at $51,727, Wellington County at $29,325, the Township of Guelph Eramosa at $16,000 and the Town of Erin at $13,302. Total revenue was $768,756, an increase of $44,953 compared to 2013.
August 27, 2014
EWCS celebrates 30 years of caring
As published in the Erin Advocate
East Wellington Community Services is marking its 30th anniversary with a look back at its humble origins and a party to inspire renewed commitment to the future.
The public is invited to join current and past volunteers, board members and staff for refreshments at the Erin Legion on September 8, at 7 pm. Activities will include a Blasts from the Past slide show hosted by Children’s Services Manager Marlene MacNevin, who has been with the agency 28 years. RSVP to Tammy at 519-833-9696.
The guest speaker will be Joe Roberts, a former homeless skid row addict who turned his life around to become an author and the CEO of a successful Canadian company. He is a professional motivational speaker and an advocate for at-risk youth.
The idea of a local agency to provide services to rural and village residents in the Erin-Hillsburgh-Rockwood area started with a meeting of citizens in 1983 at the Legion Hall. In 1984 they opened the East Wellington Advisory Group (EWAG) Multi-Service Centre and Info Erin at All Saints Anglican Church.
“We felt that our community had fallen between the cracks of the service delivery system and that it needed something of its own,” said founding President Kasia Seydegart, in an article on the agency’s history. “The pivotal issue in our community was lack of resources for children and teens. EWAG had to bring the services to the people rather than bring the people to the services.”
Over the years, EWAG became part of the community fabric, recruiting an army of volunteers to share their talents, and earning broad support from residents, businesses, service clubs, governments and churches. It was built on the principles of easy access, coordination of various services, local management and opportunities for people to learn and contribute.
Here are just a few highlights of the agency’s initiatives and partnerships over the years: the Info Erin Directory, the Nearly New, Bookends, Again and New to You Stores, Panda’s Place, Erin Child Care Outreach (now Ontario Early Years), Employment Services, the Seniors Day Program, services for active seniors including recreational programs, the 109 Club and day trips, the Rural Women’s Shelter Program, a van and a lift-equipped bus, the Eramosa Seniors’ Resource Centre and the Toy Lending Library in Rockwood, free computer/internet access, United Way support, the Food Bank and Christmas Hamper programs and the launch of the East Wellington Family Health Team medical centre.
The registered charity changed its name in 2009 to East Wellington Community Services, with offices at 45 Main Street in Erin (where a series of partner agencies also provide services) and at 106 Church Street in Rockwood, and extensive information available at www.eastwellingtoncommunityservices.com.
With the recent loss of youth programs at Erin Hoops / Main Place, EWCS is conducting a survey of youth to find out what services they would like in the community and how the agency could help. It is available through the East Wellington CS Facebook page or at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y8NN8F9.
Many of EWCS programs get government funding, but local contributions of time, money, food, equipment, clothing, skills and services form a major part of the agency’s support. Fundraising efforts range from the retailing of clothes and books to the annual Golf Tournament, the High Tea and High Heels event, the ongoing bottle drive, and even wine sales through The Little Grape That Could. Financial support can be raised through hosted events, given personally at the offices or online through the Canada Helps website.
“Donations are essential – they really keep the agency thriving,” said Erika Westcott, Manager of Marketing and Fund Development. “We have a real relationship with the community.”
So if you have never had any connection with Community Services, or if it’s been a while, please give it some thought. Sooner or later, you or someone you care about will benefit from this network of support.
East Wellington Community Services is marking its 30th anniversary with a look back at its humble origins and a party to inspire renewed commitment to the future.
The public is invited to join current and past volunteers, board members and staff for refreshments at the Erin Legion on September 8, at 7 pm. Activities will include a Blasts from the Past slide show hosted by Children’s Services Manager Marlene MacNevin, who has been with the agency 28 years. RSVP to Tammy at 519-833-9696.
The guest speaker will be Joe Roberts, a former homeless skid row addict who turned his life around to become an author and the CEO of a successful Canadian company. He is a professional motivational speaker and an advocate for at-risk youth.
The idea of a local agency to provide services to rural and village residents in the Erin-Hillsburgh-Rockwood area started with a meeting of citizens in 1983 at the Legion Hall. In 1984 they opened the East Wellington Advisory Group (EWAG) Multi-Service Centre and Info Erin at All Saints Anglican Church.
“We felt that our community had fallen between the cracks of the service delivery system and that it needed something of its own,” said founding President Kasia Seydegart, in an article on the agency’s history. “The pivotal issue in our community was lack of resources for children and teens. EWAG had to bring the services to the people rather than bring the people to the services.”
Over the years, EWAG became part of the community fabric, recruiting an army of volunteers to share their talents, and earning broad support from residents, businesses, service clubs, governments and churches. It was built on the principles of easy access, coordination of various services, local management and opportunities for people to learn and contribute.
Here are just a few highlights of the agency’s initiatives and partnerships over the years: the Info Erin Directory, the Nearly New, Bookends, Again and New to You Stores, Panda’s Place, Erin Child Care Outreach (now Ontario Early Years), Employment Services, the Seniors Day Program, services for active seniors including recreational programs, the 109 Club and day trips, the Rural Women’s Shelter Program, a van and a lift-equipped bus, the Eramosa Seniors’ Resource Centre and the Toy Lending Library in Rockwood, free computer/internet access, United Way support, the Food Bank and Christmas Hamper programs and the launch of the East Wellington Family Health Team medical centre.
The registered charity changed its name in 2009 to East Wellington Community Services, with offices at 45 Main Street in Erin (where a series of partner agencies also provide services) and at 106 Church Street in Rockwood, and extensive information available at www.eastwellingtoncommunityservices.com.
With the recent loss of youth programs at Erin Hoops / Main Place, EWCS is conducting a survey of youth to find out what services they would like in the community and how the agency could help. It is available through the East Wellington CS Facebook page or at www.surveymonkey.com/s/Y8NN8F9.
Many of EWCS programs get government funding, but local contributions of time, money, food, equipment, clothing, skills and services form a major part of the agency’s support. Fundraising efforts range from the retailing of clothes and books to the annual Golf Tournament, the High Tea and High Heels event, the ongoing bottle drive, and even wine sales through The Little Grape That Could. Financial support can be raised through hosted events, given personally at the offices or online through the Canada Helps website.
“Donations are essential – they really keep the agency thriving,” said Erika Westcott, Manager of Marketing and Fund Development. “We have a real relationship with the community.”
So if you have never had any connection with Community Services, or if it’s been a while, please give it some thought. Sooner or later, you or someone you care about will benefit from this network of support.
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