Local boys self-publish science fiction adventure

As published in The Erin Advocate

When I was 12, I thought that I could write a novel. I’ve now been procrastinating for 47 years. Despite earning a degree in English literature and writing thousands of newspaper articles, there is still no novel in sight.

So I was a bit envious when I met Henri Clark from Hillsburgh, who just went ahead and did it. His 13th birthday party was also a book launching.

The Adventures of Zeppron features a hero in another universe whose space ship is shot down, far from his home planet. He makes alliances with mysterious characters and does high-tech battle with an even more mysterious enemy. 

Author Henri Clark and Illustrator George Wilson

“Zeppron is young and small, but with the knowledge of an adult,” said Henri. “He uses technology to his advantage, like MacGyver.” Angus MacGyver was a TV secret agent (1985-1992) known for solving complex problems by making devices out of ordinary objects.

Science fiction is a good way for a novelist to start out, since there is plenty of inspiration in popular movies and TV shows, and it permits a wide range of possibilities.

“I can invent technology for whatever I need,” said Henri, who wrote the book in about 4 months. It started out as a short story, but with so many ideas floating around, it expanding to a 169-page novel, and a plan to write five more as a series.

Adventures include the use of a glowing golden device called the Staff of Zepronas that can restore things that have been damaged. Then there is the amazing suit that enables Zeppron to fly and control weapon systems.

The story focuses on the friendship among the good guys, with many narrow escapes as they try to stop the evil Blackhat from succeeding.

“It’s not supposed to be happy or sad – it is a series of cliffhangers, getting the reader to the next section,” said Henri.

His partner in the publishing project is his friend George Wilson, who created the illustrations that appear on the title pages for each part. He is also working on promotion.

They have their own business card and postcard to advertise the book, and they’ve been interviewed by a columnist from Metroland Media.

The book looks cool with its glossy cover, and though it was done for fun, they are selling it for $9.59 US ($13+ CAN) on Amazon.com. Just Google the words Zeppron and Clark and you’ll find a number of websites from different countries selling the book.

It was done through the website blurb.com, which for a very low cost enabled them to set the book up, get a small number of copies and make it available to the public.

With the “print-on-demand” system, customers get the book in just a few days, and there is no need for an expensive inventory.

Science fiction thriller tackles ethical issues

As published in The Erin Advocate

Sharon Sasaki has published a science fiction thriller that projects today’s medical issues into an outer space future where technology has advanced – but human nature has not.

Formerly a family doctor in Erin, Sasaki now works as a surgical assistant at Guelph General Hospital. She will be promoting her debut sci-fi novel, Welcome to the Madhouse, on Saturday, November 14 at the Tin Roof Café on Main Street, 6-8 pm, with a reading starting about 6:30 pm.

The story starts with Lt. Dr. Grace Lord arriving at a medical space station. Most of the patients are humans who have been altered with fantastical animal adaptations to make them more versatile soldiers or workers, on planets being exploited by the profit-seeking Conglomerate. They arrive horribly injured, frozen in cryopods, needing to be rebuilt.

The narrative shifts among several modes, including strong action sequences that are pushed to extremes by the eccentric characters and technologies within the space station. It is a mix of hospital drama and Space Opera science fiction, with inspiration that ranges from Isaac Asimov stories to Star Wars movies.

Other sections are introspective descriptions of characters and their philosophical musings. Should one mind be allowed to use two bodies? Should the minds of important humans be copied, so as to resurrect them in new bodies after they die?

Still other sections focus on the patter of conversation among doctors, such as the bizarrely abrasive surgeon Dr. Al-Fadi (“Welcome to the Madhouse, Dr. Grace!”) and the easy-going anesthetist Dr. Dejan Cech.

Then there’s the space station’s commanding officer Nelson Mandela (an ever-present artificial intelligence who is not all that smart), Sophie Leung (a tiny nurse with a huge voice), and patients like Dris Kindle (a human-leopard soldier planning to give up her babies for adoption).

For such a high-tech facility, it is surprisingly disorganized, vulnerable to the weaknesses of humans and uncontrollable outside forces. Barely holding the upper hand are human creativity, ingenuity and personal respect.

There are emotional and ethical issues involving android SAMM-E 777, a surgical assistant whose real name is Bud. Like many a sci-fi robot, he is aware of his lower class status and explores ways of becoming more human. He develops his capacity to experience confusing emotions, feels loyalty to his creator, upgrades himself to protect his beloved Grace from threats in the Madhouse and takes initiative to save the station from a mysterious virus attack.

While the endearing Dr. Lord is the centre of the action, she doesn’t drive it. She’s too busy reacting to crazy characters and incidents. Powerful evil impetus is provided by a psychiatrist who abuses his mind-melding techniques.

“Grace is a moral voice,” said Sasaki. “But the book is really about Bud. He embodies all the good characteristics of humans. The theme is: What does it mean to be human?”

It’s not an optimistic look ahead. The future seems to be ruled by competition for resources and profits rather than higher ideals.

Sasaki, who has read science fiction since she was 7, says, “The book is based on what we face in the hospital – we never know what’s coming in the front door. It’s a platform to question things that are going on in today’s world. I raise questions, without giving answers.” She is planning to expand the story in a number of sequels, and a prequel.

The book is available for $15 from the office of her husband, Chiropractor David Sherrington, 18 Thompson Crescent in Erin, and at the Nov. 14 book reading. It’s also available at Booklore in Orangeville, The Bookshelf in Guelph and Chapters at Square One, or through friesenpress.com (print on demand), amazon.com or chapters.ca.

New photo gallery puts focus on Erin

As published in The Erin Advocate

Perhaps it is a short attention span that has led me to try a lot of different things, without becoming an expert at any of them. The pursuit of variety makes life interesting, of course, but still I envy people who can concentrate their efforts and be very successful.

I got a film camera as a present for my fifth birthday, a simple plastic box with a lens, and my friends thought I was a bit strange, going around the neighbourhood in Welland taking snapshots of trees and flowers.

Well, I’m still doing that with the Town of Erin as my neighbourhood, and while the quality has improved slightly, I’m just figuring it out as I go along. I’ve realized that if you wait for perfection, you’ll be waiting forever, and if you don’t share what you’ve got, you miss an opportunity to have some useful fun.

Putting stuff out there for the public has been central to my careers as a writer and graphic designer. The 345 columns I’ve written for the Advocate in the last 7 years are republished on a blog: erininsight.blogspot.ca. They are fully searchable, organized by date and topic.

Some articles have photos with them, but until recently the content was 99% words. In January I started a new section within the blog called Somewhereinerin. It is a gallery of photos I’ve taken in the Erin area (plus a few vacation sunsets). Just click on the tab at the top of the home page to take a look.

At first, I was trying to post a new photo every day, until I discovered just how difficult that is while trying to make a living doing other things. A few new ones every week is more realistic.

Of course, I’m not the first photographer to take an interest in Erin. I admire the professional work of Martin Lamprecht (featured on the new Town of Erin website), Tristan Clark who does local news and portrait/wedding photography, and former Advocate photographers Sandra Traversy and Jill Janson, all of whom have web sites.

Whenever I post an article or a photo, I’ll normally send out a tweet – a very small sound in a noisy world – in an attempt to spark some interest and link readers to the blog. You can follow me on Twitter using @ErinWriter, and sign up as a follower on the blog.

Part of the blogging game is to drive traffic to your site, in order to sell products or make money from advertising. My blog, however, is more of a community service than a business, especially since I can’t be competing with The Advocate while working for them.

Still, I thought I’d try putting non-local ads on the blog, to see if they would generate some income. It’s easy to sign up with Google. They put a constant rotation of ads onto the blog that are somehow linked to the content, but you really only make money if people actually click on them.

I’m not much of an ad clicker and it turns out that my readers are not either. After ten weeks, I’ve made a total of $4.85, and they don’t send you anything until you hit the $10 mark.

With an average of more than 80 visits to the blog every day, I thought I might do better than that, but I had no illusions about hitting a jackpot. Still, you never know. Maybe a photo or story will go viral some day. Maybe I should learn how to shoot video.

The curious thing about traffic to the blog is that while the content is all about Erin, most of the visitors are not from Erin. Of the 86,200 all-time visits, less than half are from somewhere in Canada.

The topics obviously have a broad appeal, since I’ve had 20,000 visits from the US, 7,000 from Germany, 3,300 from Russia, 3,000 from France, 2,300 from Ukraine, 1,400 from the United Kingdom, 601 from China and 460 from Saudi Arabia. Go figure.

Police advise seniors to beware of scams

As published in The Erin Advocate

Last week, an email went out to a number of Erin residents from Town Councillor Josie Wintersinger. It said she had been injured in a car accident while on vacation in The Philippines and was desperate for assistance.

She was, of course, safe at home, but quite annoyed at being the victim of a hacker trying to trick people on her email contact list into sending money.

“I have no idea how it happened – I reported it to the police,” said Wintersinger, who was inundated with phone calls from people on the list. She has now changed a number of passwords, to reduce the risk of intrusion into her personal affairs.

“It caused a lot of concern, and one day of wasted time. Once they have your password, you’re in trouble, especially if you’ve used that same password for other things.”

It is called the Emergency Scam, or in cases where a senior is convinced to send money to help a grandchild in trouble, it is known as the Grandparent Scam. Since 2009, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has received 17,132 such complaints, with more than $24 million in reported losses. The average loss per victim was $3,743.

Also last week, Constable Dan MacDonald and Detective Constable Heidi Pautsch of the Guelph OPP were at the Erin Legion with a presentation for the Extended Leaning Opportunities (ELO) lecture series on the wide array of scams that criminals are cooking up to relieve citizens of their hard-earned cash.

“This is their full-time job – they are so sophisticated,” said MacDonald. “I’m sorry to scare you, but you have to be vigilant.”

He says people should reduce the amount of personal information available to identity thieves by shedding paper garbage, picking up their mail promptly and even ripping the labels off prescription medicine bottles. He also suggests that people avoid carrying their Social Insurance card in their wallets.

When you pay with a credit card, he says don’t use the swipe or tap options – these are less secure than using the card chip and PIN. Fraudsters now have devices that allow them to sit in a parking lot and electronically pick up credit card numbers and PINs from inside a store. The chip enhances security by scrambling your PIN number.

When emails from strangers make it through your spam filter and invite you to “Click Here”, don’t do it – unless you want to invite malicious software to mine your hard drive for personal information.

Seniors (who make up the majority of the ELO audience) are often targeted by phone or at their doorways by people who know they may be vulnerable.

“Seniors are trusting. They see the best in people, and they often have a nestegg of savings,” said Pautsch, urging people not to send money to anyone without confirming their identity through family members or independent sources. “Usually once the money is gone, it’s gone. We try, but it is really hard for us to get it back.”

Many of these criminals are operating out of other countries, using proxy phone numbers or computer IDs to make them appear local. Police urge people to be aware of common warning signs:

If the deal seems too good to be true, it’s usually not. If a stranger suddenly wants to be your friend, give you something for free, supply a prize for a contest you don’t recall entering or is applying pressure for a quick decision, it is time to bail out.

Never provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN), bank account numbers, credit card numbers or other personal information to callers you don’t know personally, or send those numbers to anyone by email.

Many scams require you to wire money up front, but others involve paying inflated prices or signing long-term contracts for things you may not need, such as paving, a new furnace or water heater, internet services or home renovations.

Pautsch described a case in Wellington County of a well-educated CEO of a company who “lacked romance” and met someone from another country though a dating website. After building up a relationship over a considerable time, this person started asking for increasingly large amounts of money. By the time the victim realized she had fallen in love with a falsely created “person” that she would never meet, she was out $30,000.

“She was very embarrassed and it was hard emotionally, but we couldn’t help her. We could not track this person,” Pautsch said.

The Bank Manager Scam is another trick that is aimed at seniors, with a caller who claims to be from the bank and needs a customer’s help to catch a teller who is stealing money. The senior is asked to withdraw about $5,000 in cash, put it in an envelope and turn it over to the “manager” in a nearby parking lot.

They are told to come in to the branch the next day for a meeting with the manager, which is when they discover it was a scam – one that works more than half the time, according to the Anti-Fraud Centre.

One last tip from the OPP: get a free credit report on yourself from one of Canada’s two credit bureaus (Equifax or TransUnion). Not only will you be able to correct any errors on your file, but also you can check for suspicious activity if someone is using your identity.

More information is available in the fraud prevention section at www.opp.ca or at www.antifraudcentre.ca.

MOE rejects lower standards for West Credit

As published in The Erin Advocate

A suggestion by Mayor Lou Maieron to relax strict pollution standards so more new homes can be built in Erin has been rejected by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE).

The mayor is upset that Orangeville, on the main part of the Credit River, is allowed to plan for substantial growth when it has higher levels of contamination than Erin, on the West Credit tributary.

“Why should Erin’s growth be limited to clean up (dilute) water pollution issues originating from Orangeville?” he said in a letter to Credit Valley Conservation (CVC). “Maybe Orangeville’s growth numbers should decrease and Orangeville can clean up their discharge rather than expect Erin not to grow.”

The MOE says the areas must be considered separately. It confirms that Erin will have to meet a much stricter set of rules for sewage discharge because the West Credit River is classified as a Policy One stream, meaning that the existing water quality is better than provincial standards and must be preserved.

The Credit River downstream of Orangeville is a Policy Two stream, already degraded to levels that are worse than provincial standards. Orangeville will be allowed to grow, including a 21% increase in sewage flow, but only if it uses treatment improvements and water conservation to avoid any higher contamination of the river. Maieron is asking why Erin cannot employ a similar strategy to allow for more growth.

For phosphorus in treated sewage effluent, Erin could only discharge .1 milligrams per litre (mg/L). Maieron suggests the limit could be raised to .2 mg/L, possibly enabling more homes to be built. Orangeville’s MOE objective for phosphorus is .4 mg/L, and Maieron says in his CVC letter that they are currently discharging at .5 mg/L.

The first column shows the strict provincial sewage standards for the West Credit River 

that are limiting the Town of Erin’s urban population growth. The second column 

shows the more lenient standards issued in 2009 for the more polluted section

 of the Credit River south of Orangeville. Some parameters have no direct comparison.

The mayor is looking for ways to accommodate provincial demands for population growth and promote economic development. He also wants to find solutions for developers like Solmar, whose subdivision plans are threatened by the population cap imposed by the MOE through the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) that has just been completed.

Between 2011 and 2031, Orangeville’s population is expected to grow from 28,000 to 36,500 if sufficient water and wastewater servicing is available. If the Town of Erin continues to reserve sewage capacity for its existing 4,500 urban residents (including Hillsburgh), only 1,500 new residents (500 homes) will be allowed once a sewer system is built. Growth would be about 30% in both cases, but Erin’s would be on a much smaller scale.

The mayor’s arguments about the river only hold water if both sections are treated as a single entity, based on combined water quality downstream of the Forks of the Credit. The MOE says the two branches must be regulated separately, with maximum protection in the west, and no further degradation in the east.

“The circumstances are so significantly different that it is inappropriate to compare the two settings,” said Mark Smithson, Regional Manager for the Technical Support Section of the MOE, in a letter to the Town of Erin.

He said Orangeville’s discharges have no impact on the assimilative capacity of the West Credit and that the MOE has followed a standard process that would apply to any Policy One stream, including a slight reduction in population to account for impacts of climate change.

The MOE does not provide infrastructure funding, and Smithson said discussions between the MOE and CVC were on technical points, since neither “has the ability or authority to make decisions that allocate development potential to a community.”

He noted that Erin would be building its first treatment plant, subject to today’s standards, while Orangeville’s dates back to 1929, and that sewage treatment would not be withdrawn from Orangeville.

“Each time that the Town has sought approval to permit expansion of its sewage treatment capacity, assimilative capacity studies have been required to demonstrate that the expansion would not result in any further impact,” he said. “In order to discharge a greater volume of effluent, Orangeville has been required to make process improvements that resulted in effluent of higher quality.”

Smithson says “improvement of water quality is encouraged”, and Orangeville’s quality is much better than it once was, but it appears the MOE is content with merely avoiding further degradation. With the Greater Toronto Area expecting an additional 2.5 million residents, for a total population of 8.9 million by 2036, perhaps improvement is too much to expect.

Still, it is worth asking, what if the MOE required sewage treatment improvements, without any housing growth? What would it take to transform the Credit River south of Orangeville into a Policy One stream? The answer is probably a whole lot of money and a more aggressive approach to the problem.

It's not too late for climate change solutions

As published in Country Routes

Measures to counter the damaging effects of climate change can be achieved without catastrophic costs and devastation of the world economy, according to new studies in the debate over global warming.

That’s music to the ears of environmental activists like Erin’s Liz Armstrong, who have pushed for practical climate action at the local level.

She has started a chapter of the Citizen’s Climate Lobby (CCL), designed to influence political decision makers at various levels of government.

Liz Armstrong

Two recent reports from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) say that while the risk of increasing droughts, floods, crop failures and severe storms due to the carbon from fossil fuels is reaching an alarming level, the ability to do something about it remains well within the reach of national governments.

“It will get worse before it gets better, but it’s not too late, and it is not going to cost the earth,” said Armstrong. “We have to buckle down and steel ourselves to do this. It is the developed countries that are causing the problem. There is no excuse not to act.”

The IPCC report says climate change is “unequivocally” caused by people burning fossil fuels and that it poses a serious threat to peace and stability. Scientists warn that we need to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent or more by mid-century to avoid calamity.

“The good news is that it will not cost much compared to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and compared to the cost if we do nothing,” said Armstrong.

Her group is meeting on the first Saturday of each month at Erin United Church, training on how to engage politicians and the public, planning local action and getting updates from CCL leaders. She can be contacted by email: liz@lizarmstrong.ca, and more information is available at www.citizensclimatelobby.ca.

The federal Conservative government has put a lot of energy into oil sands expansion, pipeline plans and energy exports. They have promised tougher environmental legislation, and say Canada is on track to trim greenhouse gas emissions by 17 per cent by 2020 from their 2005 level. But The Toronto Star reports that Environment Canada is less optimistic, saying last fall that at the current rate, we will achieve a mere 0.4-per-cent cut.

The Citizen’s Climate Lobby favours a “Carbon Fee and Dividend”, essentially a carbon tax placed on fossil fuels at their source. This would result in higher fuel prices, but all of the extra money would be rebated equally to Canadians. It would be a market-driven system, benefiting those who use less fuel.

The Lobby also objects to the current distortions in the marketplace, in which taxpayers’ money is used to mask the true cost of energy. A report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) calculated that Canada provided $26 billion to subsidize the energy industry in 2011, which is $787 per person.

IMF First Deputy Managing Director David Lipton said removing these subsidies worldwide could lead to a 13 percent decline in carbon dioxide emissions. This would reduce global energy demand and strengthen incentives for research and development in energy-saving and alternative technologies.

Canada already has a thriving “green” sector, innovating and making money in areas such as energy, infrastructure, transportation, biorefinery, industrial processes and wastewater treatment.

“Canada’s clean tech sector is now a $11.3 billion industry, it employs more Canadians than aerospace, and has the potential to grow to $50 billion by 2022, representing 2% of the global market share,” said Armstrong, suggesting that subsidies for clean technologies instead of oil would be a better investment for Canada.

A study by Analytica Advisors estimates employment in the clean tech sector could grow from the current 41,100, to more than 75,000 in the next eight years.

“Canadian innovation is helping to clean up contaminated land and water, store energy for use during peak demand, improve efficiencies in solar systems and transform greenhouse gases into stronger concrete to build greener buildings,” says the Citizen’s Climate Lobby, commenting on the study.

“Other countries have taken notice, buying environmentally-friendly Canadian technologies that help reduce and recycle solid waste, improve efficiencies and reduce our reliance on fossil fuel and petro-products. Approximately 74 percent of Canadian clean technology companies are exporters, with 42 percent of export sales going to non-US countries.

“While Canadian clean technology enjoys strong market diversification overseas, it struggles to compete domestically. One challenge is the price of carbon-based energy, which is relatively cheap in Canada compared to many countries.

“At a time when the world is thinking twice about investing in a high carbon future, Canada can ill-afford to put its economic eggs in the oil sands basket. According to the IPCC, the world must keep two thirds of all fossil fuel reserves in the ground to avoid dangerous global warming.

“Canada is at a crossroads. Does it invest in dirty oil and pipelines, and lock the country into a high-carbon economy, or does it focus on transforming its economy, using clean technology to drive innovation and economic growth?”

“Building a green economy will create more long-term jobs,” said Armstrong, who remains hopeful that some of those companies could be attracted to Erin. “Smart municipalities are making plans and looking to the future. Election candidates need to say what type of development they would like to see here in the next 50 years.”

Climate change could mean a low flow of water in the West Credit River at certain times. As a precaution against excessive contamination from treated sewage effluent, a 10% cutback has been made in the maximum number of new residents to be allowed in Erin village and Hillsburgh.

Food is another key aspect, with crop yields and fish harvests declining as the world population increases, making it difficult to sustain a quality, affordable supply.

“This is no longer a picture about poor farmers in some regions being hit by climate change,” said Tim Gore, head of policy for food and climate change at Oxfam. “This is a picture about global agriculture being hit – US, Russia, and Australia – with global implications for food prices.”

A TD Bank report says natural catastrophes will cost Canadians an estimated $21-$43 billion per year by 2050.

“The frequency of weather events has increased,” said lead author and TD economist Craig Alexander. “Storms that used to occur every forty years are now occurring every six years. And because of the composition of Canadian economy and society, we’re ending up with more damaging events.”

He said city dwellers are at the highest risk, and with Canadians becoming wealthier, they have more valuable assets to lose in the event of a catastrophic storm. Repairs after a catastrophe tend to inflate the GDP, masking the costs that are shared broadly via the insurance industry and government relief funding.

The TD report highlights estimates that for every dollar invested in adaptation to climate change prevention, such as severe weather resistant buildings, from $9-$38 worth of costs will be avoided in the future.

“Here in the Town of Erin, we should be cognizant of these predicted increases of weather and climate extremes when planning and building new (or replacing old) infrastructure, housing, roads and bridges, etc., significantly boosting their capacity to withstand more punishing climate stresses than in the past,” said Armstrong.

“All of these suggestions were brought forward in 2011 by Amaranth Mayor Don MacIver, an Environment Canada climatologist who was a member of the IPCC. Our Council (present and future) needs to be aware, and prepared to act on his suggestions and forewarnings.”

Hillsburgh could be left out in sewer plan

As published in The Erin Advocate

The Town of Erin will be restricted to 6,000 residents on sewers, after a review of data on the West Credit River’s ability to safely absorb the discharge from a sewage treatment plant.

The long-awaited number, set by Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), was announced at a public Town Council workshop last week. It could permanently limit total growth in Erin village and Hillsburgh to as few as 500 new homes.

Councillors are now being asked to narrow down their choices about which options should get detailed financial study in the last phase of the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP) – including the possibility that Erin village will get servicing and Hillsburgh will not.

The option of servicing existing homes in both villages is also likely to be studied, but council is also being asked to decide very soon whether both villages will get a share of future housing growth. 

The option of giving most of the sewage allocation to developers, while leaving all existing homes on private septic systems, has been strongly discouraged by SSMP Consultant Matt Pearson of BM Ross.

The options for investigation could be chosen at the April 1 council meeting next week, as part of a schedule to complete the SSMP before this fall’s municipal election. Mayor Lou Maieron suggested there too many unknown factors to make any choices among options.

“Where do we get the basis of information to make an intelligent decision?” he asked.

Analysis of specific options by Watson & Associates will lay out the detailed costs for urban homeowners, which would become part of a combined water and sewer bill when they actually get service. In addition to a monthly fee, the bill will include the costs of construction, individual hook-up and debt interest, possibly spread over 30 years. Rural residents will not get service, and will not have to pay a share of the construction and interest charges. 

The 6,000 number is low compared to earlier estimates ranging from 6,500 to 13,500, and could dramatically restrict new housing development. CVC Deputy CAO John Kinkead warned council last May that the number would be near the low end. It was set after additional study of the river, with low flow measurements reduced an extra 10% to allow for the harmful effects of climate change and land use changes.

The number of existing urban residents has been set at 4,500 (1,400 in Hillsburgh and 3,100 in Erin village), leaving only 1,500 for new residents. At the accepted ratio of 2.83 residents per household, that would mean only 530 new homes, total for Hiillsburgh and Erin village – but only if all existing residents also get sewer service. The number could range from 500 to 600 based on housing styles.

The population cap is intended to be permanent, since the Assimilative Capacity (AC) of the river is not expected to rise, but it only applies to sewered homes. If it was decided that Hillsburgh would never get sewers, not only would the village get virtually no development, but the sewage allocation of the 1,400 Hillsburgh residents could then be given to developers to build about 500 additional homes in Erin village.

That would mean a total of 1,030 new homes, almost the number being requested now by Solmar Developments, though the number is meant to include infilling, the process of adding small numbers of new homes or apartments in existing neighbourhoods.

Dale Murray of Triton Engineering told council last week that they should be considering whether they want to reserve sewage capacity for future use, if there are no plans to use it in the early stages of the process. Pearson said, “You can’t sit on 4,500 capacity forever.”

BM Ross has also outlined other options such as piping the sewage to another municipality, which is considered very expensive. There is also the possibility of servicing Hillsburgh, but not Erin village, which is considered unlikely.

Gary Cousins, Director of Planning and Development at Wellington County, told councillors that no large-scale housing developments will be approved using septic systems.

Roy Val of Transition Erin recently organized a workshop on alternative sewer methods, including Small Bore Systems (SBS), which use septic tanks at individual homes. The effluent is sent to a smaller treatment plant through narrow pipes that do not require the road to be dug up. 

He believes both Erin village and Hillsburgh are entitled to service, and contends that SBS is not just a technology issue to be studied later, but a concept that should be cost-analyzed now, since it could change the feasibility of the entire venture.

Kinkead said new technologies would have little impact on the 6,000 limit, and that the MOE is unlikely to approve any technology that does not have a proven track record in Ontario.

If all existing residents (4,500) kept their septic systems, and all the sewage allocation was given to developers (6,000), that would add up to an urban population of 10,500. Combined with the rural population of about 7,000, that would put the entire Town of Erin at 17,500 in 20-30 years.

If not for the restrictions imposed by the river, existing lands in the two villages could support an extra 24,000 people.

Pearson also favours servicing both existing communities. He said leaving a community unserviced would cause it to decline, with businesses and community services drawn away from the core, restricted ability to redevelop vacant buildings, and no resolution to problems such as aging septic beds and holding tanks, and lack of housing for young couples and seniors.

“Servicing one community creates inequalities,” he said. “Investment in properties will decline.”

Councillor Barb Tocher said, “You’ll get two classes of people.”

Pearson has suggested the best route for a pipe to move sewage from Hillsburgh to Erin village is the Elora Cataract Trailway, estimating it could cost $2 million.

There has been discussion of a possible treatment plant at Tenth Line and Wellington Road 52 (Bush Street). CVC said last year that the ideal discharge point is further downstream near Winston Churchill Boulevard, where the river has greater capacity.

The review of costs is scheduled for a public Town Council workshop in May, followed by a choice of one of the options. Council would review a draft SSMP report that would be presented at a public meeting in July. After final revisions, council could vote on August 5 to approve the SSMP, clearing the way for environmental studies of which technologies could be used for a sewer system.

“It’s an expensive proposition no matter what gets built,” said Pearson, who believes Erin has a good chance of getting senior government grants to offset costs. He said if there is substantial housing growth, there could be extra costs for a water tower in Hillsburgh, and a second one in Erin.

He reminded council that if residents had to replace all their aging septic systems, it would cost millions of dollars without any government grants or the option to spread costs over 30 years. He said the cost of a high-end septic system required for small properties is now about $40,000.

Video editor strives for maximum impact

As published in The Erin Advocate

For Steve Bergwerff, it’s the creative touches that really add value and give him satisfaction when working on a video project.

The Hillsburgh native is back in town, offering video services through Ironcloud Productions, and fulfilling a dream to operate his own business.

Ironcloud involves a group of professionals that Steve can call upon to help produce everything from corporate marketing to tourism promotions, music videos and documentaries. Samples of their work are available at www.ironcloudproductions.com.

Jobs often start with pre-production tasks like budget planning, script development and location scouting. Steve works with camera operator Don Coulombe on many projects, then does various editing phases and adds graphics to create a final product.

After high school, Steve initially studied art fundamentals at Sheridan College, but found he was more interested in TV and entertainment. 

He got a job as a production assistant at a company that was doing ads for big brands like Honda and Orville Redenbacher’s, which provided valuable exposure to the business. Then he decided to go to Canadore College in North Bay, where he took the Television and Video Production program.

He has since worked in DVD design and production in Toronto, and in Barrie producing episodes for specialty shows such as Snowmobiler TV, Go Riding TV and PowerBoat TV.

More recently, he’s being doing projects for the County of Wellington, including videos on the Green Legacy tree planting program, the non-profit housing project in Fergus, the Museum and Archives and safety tips from the Ontario Provincial Police. He has moved back to Hillsburgh and operates Ironcloud from  his home, boasting ten years of experience in the field.

“It’s been my dream to have this working,” he said.

Technically, he works with a collection of video shots, including interviews with people, plus audio or narrative that can play over various visuals. He combines static, pan and zoom shots, and chooses the timing to create an appealing rhythm for the work. Often, a good choice of background music will add valuable boost.

“I want to create a bit of a bullet,” he said. “I put artistic heart and soul into what I do – there’s no formula.”

By bringing some emotion to the job, he hopes viewers will not just see and hear, but feel the impact of the what his clients want to deliver. And even if a client wants to make changes after seeing the initial version, it’s still worth the effort to have made something special.

“Sometimes you have to take a risk,” he said.

Proposed Bell tower shocks neighbour

As published in The Erin Advocate

A farmer operating a vacation business that relies on the beauty of the Erin countryside is quite alarmed at the prospect of a new Bell Mobility tower nearby.

Keith Lamont of Thistlestone Farm, on the Fourth Line south of County Road 50, learned last April about an agreement to erect a 61 metre (200 foot) tower right next to his property. He voiced his objections at a public information meeting December 3 in the Erin council chambers.

“I am stunned – they never approached me,” said Lamont. “It is quite ludicrous. Communities have needs too.”

Joel Swagerman of the consulting firm Fontur, working for Bell Mobility, said notifications for consultation can only be sent out after an agreement has been worked out with the owner of a selected location. Landowners can earn substantial revenue by allowing a tower on their property.

Anyone with concerns about this tower must send in their comments to Bell Mobility by December 23, and they will include them with their submission to Industry Canada. While the information meeting took place in the presence of Erin town councillors prior to their regular meeting, they have no authority regarding communications towers and made no comments.

“This has become a stressful experience,” said Lamont, who believes the visual impact of the tower puts his vacation business in jeopardy. “No one concerned has even visited us.”

With his website, www.thistlestonefarm.com, he promotes not only his family’s sheep farm operation, but encourages Farm Stay Vacations. The property has various ponds, trails and boardwalks.

“We have renovated two homes to attract visitors from the Bruce Trail, international ag visitors, naturalists, birders and livestock seminars sanctioned by OMAFRA etc. All these visitors will be staying in accommodation under the shadow of a multi-legged tower.”

Swagerman said several sites were considered in the area, and this is considered the best, providing coverage while meeting the required distance away from wetlands. The Grand River Conservation Authority has issued Bell a permit to use the land for a tower.

“It meets the environmental criteria – we understand that this area is quite sensitive,” he said. “There are concerns that Industry Canada does not necessarily agree are relevant to the proposal – these would be health concerns and property values – that’s just the way they work.”

“All I can counter with is the visual distraction,” said Lamont. “All I can hope for is that someone will agree that we are impacted.”

He asked if there is any possibility of screening the view of the tower to reduce its impact. Swagerman said the planting of trees could be considered, and noted that relocation of the tower within the chosen property could still be considered by Bell Mobility and the landowner in the coming months.

One of Lamont’s supporters said: “This is going to be a substantial aesthetic and financial loss, because his property will be devalued because of that tower. Why should he have the burden of all this, if the other guy gets the financial benefits?”

Community objections to new towers have become frequent news. Last month, loud protesters at a Stewarttown information meeting prevented a Rogers representative from making a presentation on a new cell tower. Complaints there included health fears due to the tower signal, reduced property values, visual distraction and lack of public notification.

Swagerman said the Erin tower is part of a program to expand broadband wireless services (internet data and voice) to underserviced areas. Bell Mobility was issued the area by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission CRTC, and asked to find an appropriate location for a tower within an 800 metre radius.

“The goal of the program is to even it out so the rural areas get improved service, on an equal basis to the urban areas,” he said, noting that residents within a three to five kilometre radius would be able to receive a wireless internet signal.

Train display recreates Credit Valley landscape

As published in Caledon-Erin Sideroads

The locomotive glides smoothly through the hills of Caledon, hauling a precious cargo of memories along the banks of the Credit River.

The model Credit Valley Railway display that Steve Revell has built in his garage captures an era when trains were still a vital service for passengers and businesses in Caledon, Orangeville and Erin – complete with people, cars and the Niagara Escarpment terrain.

A model train crosses the river on the Credit Valley Railway, approaching Forks of Credit Station just east of Belfountain, headed for Orangeville. Just to the north at Cataract, a branch line was opened in 1879, providing rail service to Erin, Hillsburgh, Orton, Fergus and Elora. Those rails were lifted in 1988 and it is now the Elora-Cataract Trailway.

Steve bought his first train set when he was 12, with earnings as a paper boy, though the hobby was soon surpassed by his interest in cars and girls. After he got married, his wife Donna knew of his previous interest, and bought him a train engine.

"That led to a railroad, in our first apartment, taking over the dinette," said Steve. "In our second place it took over a bedroom, and in our third place it took over the basement."

After moving to Erin in 1986, it was decided that no cars would occupy the double garage. It was to become the stage for an extravagant train and miniature landscape creation that would encompass Steve's interest in history, trains, classic cars and the natural environment.

Steve shows off his multi-level model train display, which has scenes from the 1950s depicting the industrial section of old Brampton, rural Caledon and the town of Orangeville.

"I use inexpensive materials and recycle them," said Steve. The viewing platforms are built out of bi-fold doors, and the hills and valleys out of foam and paper towel.

Basswood bark can be made to look like limestone outcroppings. Weeds and pickled lichen come in handy for greenery, though they can be improved with glycerine and green dye. And whiskers no longer needed by his cat serve as fishing poles for little people by the river.

He has built in "O" scale, which is 1/48 of actual size. A figure of six-foot-tall person is 1.5 inches tall, and rail cars are big enough to look inside. He has separate sets of trains, so he can portray the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s.

He uses old photos of historic buildings to learn their details, and if they still exist, he'll show up with a tape measure to make sure he gets the dimensions right.

"It's almost finished," he said, showing off the barn he had just added to his countryside. More than just an ongoing project, the display has become a meditative place, where the hum of remote-control engines helps him reflect on his explorations of the real world.

"It's a very soothing sound. I've been here. I've hiked here. I've explored these buildings. I've seen trains climbing these grades. It's re-creating good times."

Living in Mississauga and Brampton he was always close to the Credit Valley Railway, which had been part of the rail boom of the late 1800s, so it was an obvious choice for an ambitious modeler and history teacher.

"It goes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Southern Ontario," said Steve. A walk in his garage proceeds from Orangeville, though Cataract and Forks of the Credit, and into the industrial area of Brampton. It is something he has created for his own enjoyment, and he does not offer public tours.

Steve retired from the Peel Board of Education in 2002, after 17 years at Alloa Pubic School and 14 at Caledon Central Public.

"I'd take kids out for hikes to Cataract, through the Forks park, down to Forks of the Credit, and then up the escarpment," he said. It's a nature walk, a taste of local history and a lesson on the evolution of Canada's economy.

One of the many quarries in the Forks area that provided business for the CVR, and distinctive pink sandstone for construction of the Ontario Legislature building.

"Through the Credit Valley, you have the farms, the quarries, the bricks, the mills, the logging, the power generation. It's Ontario history, the succession of it, and that's why I love the Elora-Cataract Trailway."

Steve was part of the group that worked with conservation authorities to establish the trailway. He has also chaired the Erin trails committee, helping build the Woollen Mills Trail and expand the local hiking network.

"I always felt that I was fortunate, and that I should be giving back," he said.

He has a favourite bit of poetry by Alexander McLachlan (also known for an ode to Erin founder Daniel McMillan), who in 1874 wrote of the railway:

"And from Chinguacousy's fertile plains
We hear the thunder rally,
To open up wealth's thousand veins,
Throughout the Credit Valley."

Figures of Steve playing with a cat beside the tracks, along with his father Gerry and daughter Peggy. The train display allows him to enjoy his interest in vintage car models.

Rail fans have a fascination with the human drive to harness technology, undertaking high-risk ventures and altering the environment in hopes of making a profit. In an era without trucks and good roads, trains provided an efficient alternative to boats for the movement of freight, providing access to inland areas of Southern Ontario.

In the 1870s, entrepreneur George Laidlaw built the CVR to compete with established rail lines. He had a $3,000 per mile government subsidy and huge investments from businesses and municipalities wanting reliable transportation. Wellington County pledged $135,000 and Peel $75,000.

"The CVR was already in serious financial trouble by the time it reached Erin in 1879," said Steve, in a booklet on Erin history he published in 2007.

Fraxa Junction, north-west of Orangeville.

"The arrival of the railway did facilitate travel to the outside world, but for the village itself the railway was more of a convenience than a stimulus for economic growth. Passenger service was limited after the Crash of 1929 and abandoned in 1958."

The CVR had a line west from Toronto to St. Thomas, a branch north from Streetsville to Orangeville and later to Georgian Bay, plus the Elora sub-branch.

The business collapsed under heavy debt in 1883, with its valued routes scooped up by Canadian Pacific, but the culture of the project is still admired.

A model of the old Orangeville station with its distinctive "witch's hat" turret and pointed roof as it looked in the 1950s. The real building was sold and moved in the early '80s, becoming a restaurant in downtown Orangeville.

Freight continues to move up and down the valley on the local CVR route, now used by the 55-km Orangeville Brampton Railway. The Credit Valley Explorer offers scenic train tours out of Orangeville and spectacular bridges remain as monuments to a bygone era.

Could septic inspections reduce need for sewers?

As published in The Erin Advocate

A lot of money has been spent on the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP), seeking a vision for Erin's future, and building a case in favour of a sewer system. Many people don't want sewers, but is anyone building a practical case against them?

Is anyone still hoping this problem will go away if we just do nothing? Are local politicians hoping the province will force them to bring in sewers, so it won't be their fault?

It is quite a tangle of issues, including affordable housing, taxes, business development (or survival) and the Town's precious charm, but at the core is a basic question: Can Erin take care of its own waste, while protecting the river?

Private septic systems have been good enough in the past, but environmental standards are higher now, and there are more of us. The amount of pollution caused by septic systems is difficult to measure, but it is still a huge concern for the Ministry of the Environment (MOE).

In a recent letter, the MOE said it had opposed a sewage treatment plant in the past, largely due to "the need to protect the high quality aquatic ecosystem in this branch of the Credit River". But they said, "In a number of instances, development on small lots has now resulted in septic system failure. Given the risk of contamination from these failing systems, MOE has agreed to consider municipal sewage treatment."

They don't sound very enthusiastic about sewage treatment. What if Erin could clean up its act, with properly functioning septic systems in every back yard? Could we make the case that moderate growth and environmental protection could be achieved, without digging sewer trenches and spending 65 million dollars?

SSMP Consultant Matt Pearson paints a bleak picture of the "do nothing" option, predicting declining house prices, no jobs, closing schools, inadequate business taxation and insufficient housing for seniors and young people. Maybe he is right.

"I don't see it working, but you may be able to lobby the government to have big lots on septic systems," he said at a recent public meeting, exploring the possibility that a sewage system is decided to be too expensive. "You might get some growth out of that, but is that good growth?"

The option that is called "do nothing" would in fact take a lot of work, and some extraordinary exemptions from normal standards. What would it take to go this route? I'm not convinced it is possible, but I would like to explore the options. Maybe we could build on smaller lots using more elaborate backyard technology or communal septic beds. Send in your practical ideas as letters to the editor.

Historically, the Town has enforced the Ontario Building Code for the construction of septic systems. But how people maintained those systems has been none of the Town's business. Each homeowner has been solely responsible for their own miniature sewage plant.

That structure has to change. A septic system is not like a roof. Leaks affect the whole community, threatening public health and the environment. There should be Town staff dealing with wastewater issues, whether there is a sewer system or not.

The Ontario Building Code was amended a couple of years ago to provide for mandatory municipal inspection of private septic systems, in "vulnerable areas".

Andrew Harbolt, Erin's Chief Building Official, said the Town is awaiting final approval of those exact areas, through Ontario's Source Water Protection initiative. It is focused on preventing contamination of wells for municipal water systems. The Town will have to decide whether to have inspections done by their own staff, hire a contract inspector, or accept inspection certificates from third parties.

After an inspection, you may get an order to pay for further testing. If your septic system violates the Building Code, you will get an Order to Comply, requiring repair or replacement at your expense. This mandatory program only affects only a small number of properties close to municipal wells. But Council has the authority to extend the inspection system to other areas, or the entire Town.

Should all wells, streams and ponds be protected against faulty septic systems? By promising to force people to fix their septic systems, could the Town convince the MOE that a sewer system is not needed?

There are a number of complications, one being the fact that many properties are too small for a standard septic system under today's standards, and would need a tertiary system costing several thousand dollars extra. I have an idea to offset that cost, which I will explain in a future column. It's an idea that will cost money, but it will be a lot less than $65 million.

Erin's Bookends store now serves the world

As published in The Erin Advocate

The Book Ends store in Erin has thrown its doors open to readers throughout the world with the launch of its Online Bookstore.

People can still drop in and browse through the regular collections at 45 Main Street, but now there is a special section, with 1,200 books set aside for internet sales.

"It's been a wonderful experience – the world has opened up to Book Ends," said Coordinator Eleanor Kennedy at the launch event last week, praising the volunteers who have worked on the project for East Wellington Community Services (EWCS) over the last two and a half years.

The Erin store is now part of a network of independent booksellers through the website www.abebooks.com, which can be accessed directly or through a link at www.eastwellingtoncommunityservices.com. Based in Victoria, BC, abebooks.com provides access to thousands of booksellers and 140 million books.

The Erin section of the site has been active since March, but they did not hold their grand opening until they worked out some technical challenges and built up a collection of unique, out-of-print and collectable publications. There's now an inventory valued at $20,000, and the most expensive item ($300) is an early leather bound edition of Charles Darwin's The Descent of Man.

Most of the online books are in the $10 - $30 range. Shipping can add $9 or more to that, but local residents can save by going in to pick up their purchases. People can also browse in person by reading through the catalogue binder and make purchases at the store from either the regular shelves, or the glassed cabinets of online books.

"The world's a book, and it's open to you," said Kennedy. The volunteers received congratulations from Town Councillor John Brennan and Board President Allan Alls at Friday's reception.

The project was originally started by Enid Acton, with the help of Zina Darling. Gerry Wright later took up the major task of researching potential books for the online collection, and pricing them based on their condition and the existing market value at other on-line stores.

About 300 books have been sold so far, generating $2,500 in profit for the EWCS Food Bank, Seniors Programs and Children's Programs. They have made sales throughout North America and Europe, and even to Australia and Taiwan.

The abebooks.com site enables shoppers to browse the EWCS Book Ends collection by Author, Title, Keyword or ISBN Number. Each book has a detailed description, and they may eventually all have a photo of the cover.

The categories include Fiction, Travel, Cooking, Children's, Gardening, Coffee Table Books, Sports, Crafts, Poetry, Music, Humour, History, Health and Photography.

You can place an order at any time, but volunteers will only be at the store to process and ship them on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 1-4 p.m.

Health Team expands video access to specialists

As published in The Erin Advocate

The East Wellington Family Health Team (EWFHT) is expanding its telemedicine services, making it easier for Erin patients to consult medical specialists.

Two new nurses, Paula McClintock and Shannon Leighton, started work at the Erin clinic recently. They are dedicated to helping more patients be "seen" by doctors at various locations, with videoconferencing technology provided by the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN).

"There is enough work to keep them in their primary role," said Michelle Karker, EWFHT Executive Director. The OTN equipment has been in place for about two years, but they didn't have the staff to operate it regularly. "We're trying to figure out how we're going to squeeze it all in, dealing with that pent-up demand that we've had."

Shannon Leighton and Paula McClintock with Michelle Karker

New provincial support has enabled the Waterloo-Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN) to allocate dedicated annual base funding of $934,000, plus $250,000 in one-time funding, to expand telemedicine services in the region. Coordinated by St. Joseph's Health Centre in Guelph, funding has been distributed to care providers such as the East Wellington team.

The Erin clinic now has a full compliment of six doctors and is actively seeking new patients. Karker said the doctors and other team members are "fully on-board", and excited that patients will have quicker access to specialists.

"It has been in place for some time, but mainly in the Thunder Bay - Sudbury, very remote and rural areas," said McClintock. "They've perfected it, and they're finding other uses for it in these more southern rural areas, as another method of gaining access to health care."

One of the early barriers was web connectivity, but the Erin clinic now has access to a highly secure network. To protect the confidentiality of patient information, there is a dedicated Internet Service Provider (ISP) that does not handle other users.

Erin has offered geriatric psychiatry through OTN, but now there is potential to offer a wide range of specialties, including psychiatry for children, teens and adults, a field where medical resources are limited in rural communities.

EWFHT has a directory of physicians offering OTN service and may urge others to do so, especially since the setup is becoming easier and less costly – a desktop unit, instead of a large camera and monitor.

"It opens up the possibility of tapping into more resources," said Karker. EWFHT is currently making arrangements with a respirologist, and hoping to find a specialist to help patients with chronic pain.

"We're definitely looking into a physician who can diagnose fibromyalgia – there's a need for that," said Leighton. "And we've found that there are support groups on line as well."

Patients in a large city might attend a patient group for a particular illness, but in a small town, there may be no one else with the same condition. OTN enables them to attend the local clinic and participate in a support group through a video link. The system also allows staff to take courses or participate in meetings without having to travel.

EWFHT will also offer a service called Telederm, where a high quality digital photo of a skin condition is sent to a dermatologist, enabling a diagnosis or advice back within two weeks, instead of a patient staying on a waiting list for six months to see the doctor in person.

Some patients will still need to travel to see a specialist for certain procedures, but OTN can reduce the number of trips by allowing the preparatory consultation and follow-up to be done remotely – including arrangement of ongoing help through the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC).

Doctors will be able to review things like x-rays and blood test results before a session starts. Patients will arrive at the clinic early enough to have the nurse do any required assessments and equipment testing before going on-line.

An OTN session can involve much more than sitting in front of a camera and having a discussion. The nurse may operate a hand-held camera that can show the doctor a close-up view of a body part – for example, to show the severity of a hand tremour. It can also be used to follow a patient as they walk, so the doctor can see their gait.

Nurses will gather data and give assessments to the doctors. Information such as blood pressure, respiratory function and test results can be instantaneously transmitted. Nurses can use a digital stethoscope, while doctors can click on a picture to show where it should be placed on the patient, and hear the same audio as the nurses.

"They are their eyes and ears and hands on the other end of the camera," said Karker.

Matt Smith, previously the Manager of Rehabilitation and Ambulatory Services at St. Joe's, has been hired to provide coordination for the 67 OTN sites within the WWLHIN, enabling training and the sharing of ideas among the health professionals.

"This project will enable us to try some new ways to improve equity across the Waterloo Wellington LHIN and increase access to specialist care, especially in rural areas,” said Smith.

"By investing in this technology and the people who use it, we are providing residents with better health, better care, and better value for taxpayer dollars,” said Joan Fisk, WWLHIN Board Chair.

In 2011/12, the use of telemedicine in Ontario has resulted in an estimated $44 million in avoided travel costs. More than 3,000 health care professionals use OTN across more than 1400 sites in Ontario, including 67 in Waterloo-Wellington. This year, the system will deliver more than 200,000 patient visits.

"It's about the ability to get the care in a way that is easier and instant, so less wait time, and able to get to diagnostic equipment that you might not be able to get to," said Fisk, in an interview. "It's all about communication, more information to the patient. Also to get in front of a specialist, which you would have to drive to. There you are in a virtual situation, it's really quite impressive."

"For patients, it means greater peace of mind knowing that medical knowledge and expertise are easier to access with the help of this technology,” said Dr. Ed Brown, CEO for OTN, which is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the Ontario government.

Fisk said the LHIN is dedicated to "working hard with the hospitals, with the health service provision, to get more access to care – every minute that's what we're focused on. Ultimately it's about getting better care."

The WWLHIN administers almost $1 billion in health care funding for regional hospitals and community care, not including the costs of doctors or regular operations of family health teams.
Fisk said change often comes slowly in health care, due to habits engrained over many decades.

As an example, she said not all doctors are eager to put all of their files onto a different, shared system called Clinical Connect. It is a secure web portal delivering integrated electronic health records to thousands of health professionals from Niagara, Hamilton, Haldimand, Brant, Waterloo and Wellington areas.

That system will also consolidate patient information from hospitals and Community Care Access Centres (CCACs), and will connect with telemedicine initiatives, said Fisk.

"The idea is, you present yourself at an emergency department, they click on your OHIP number, and they'll know what diagnostic tests you've had, they'll know what your physician has had to say about you, what surgeries you've had. Especially for frail seniors, this is so important," she said.

"Trying to get there has been an unbelievably difficult process...Younger doctors are used to it. Ultimately, I think we have so much more opportunity in front of us – this is just the beginning."