Newsroom

NEWSFLASH In the meeting Wednesday evening, 100+ Women Who Care South Georgian Triangle selected Events for Life Centre. We expect to raise more than $18,000 as a result.

For those who were unable to attend in person please make your donation online.

There were three excellent presentations given by 3 of our members:  
•    Events for Life Centre - Catherine Butler
•    Habitat for Humanity - Cora O'Connor
•    Eat, Play, Thrive - Hania Krajewski
 

To learn more about how you can get involved with 100 women who care, visit us at:

On behalf of The Blue Mountains Public Library Board, I congratulate Dr. Sabrina Saunders on her achievement of the Master of Library and Information Sciences Degree (M.L.I.S.).  Sabrina completed the requirements for the degree in April, and yesterday, June 20th, she walked across the stage at the University of Western Ontario Graduation Ceremony to receive her degree.

June 21^st, 2018

On behalf of The Blue Mountains Public Library Board, I congratulate Dr. Sabrina Saunders on her achievement of the Master of Library and Information Sciences Degree (M.L.I.S.).  Sabrina completed the requirements for the degree in April, and yesterday, June 20^th, she walked across the stage at the University of Western Ontario Graduation Ceremony to receive her degree.

Dr. Saunders adds the M.L.I.S. degree to a Ph.D. in Theory & Policy Studies (University of Toronto), a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education, a Master of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies, a Master of Science in Student Personnel Administration, and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology (Buffalo State University), a certificate in EXCEL: Managing Small Public Libraries (SOLS), a certificate in Advancing Public Library Leadership (SOLS/University of Waterloo) and a number of other certifications.

Dr. Saunders models professional development to all of her staff, and inspires us all in her pursuit of life-long learning.

• Library CEO, Dr. Sabrina Saunders Congratulated by Library Board on achievement of M.L.I.S. (166 KB)

Local residents have asked us to post information about where to call to report an animal in distress. We want to remind you that dogs should not be left in cars, even for a few minutes, on a warm day.

This question is very common at this time of year particularly but is also important to remember during cold temperatures. There is a Provincial Law (Here is the link to the law: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o36#BK34) in place, and it would be enforced by the Police (local toll-free 1-888-310-1122) or SPCA.

The nearest SPCA is in Barrie (705) 728-7311, but the Georgian Triangle Humane Society may be helpful in these situations (705) 445-5204. Although there is no related specific Town of the Blue Mountains By-law, our By-law officer has responded to calls about Animals in Distress as well. By-law can be reached at (519) 599-3131 ext 256.

Many people ask the question about whether or not they can break a vehicle window to rescue an animal if left in a car.  Here is the answer from the Ontario SPCA https://ontariospca.ca/blog/5-commonly-asked-questions/

Head injuries are a leading cause of serious injury and death to kids on bicycles. Even seemingly minor head injuries may cause permanent brain damage. A properly fitted and correctly worn bike helmet can cut the risk of serious head injury by up to 80 per cent (Parachute Canada)

(Collingwood and The Blue Mountains, ON) The Collingwood and The Blue Mountains detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) partnered recently with the Simcoe/Muskoka District Health Unit, Kamikaze Bikes and the Healthy Kids Community Challenge to support the helmet/bike safety campaigns within area elementary schools. 

Youths were instructed on Bicycle Safety Rules, Hand Signals, Helmet Safety and the importance of a properly fitting and safe bicycle. Kamikaze Bikes inspected the bicycles before the youths' were presented with an opportunity to try a skills testing course set-up outside the school. An important component of this school campaign is to also identify children in need of a new properly fitting helmet which were assessed during the school event. 

Head injuries are a leading cause of serious injury and death to kids on bicycles. Even seemingly minor head injuries may cause permanent brain damage. A properly fitted and correctly worn bike helmet can cut the risk of serious head injury by up to 80 per cent (Parachute Canada)

Contact: PC Martin Hachey

Phone: (705) 445-4321

The Grey Bruce Roots of Empathy program celebrated a dozen one-year-olds for their part in teaching some very important life lessons to nearly 400 students from across Grey Bruce over the past school year.

Participating with their parents in the Roots of Empathy program, these babies, dubbed ‘tiny teachers’, helped children from Kindergarten to Grade 8 in thirteen schools across Grey Bruce learn about expressing feelings, respect, inclusion, infant development and safety and the power of a loving bond between parent and child. A total of seventeen infants and their parents took part in the pilot program.

At the heart of the Roots of Empathy program is a neighbourhood infant and parent, who visit the classroom with a certified instructor nine times over the school year. Using a specialized curriculum, the instructor coaches the students to observe the baby’s development, celebrate milestones, interact with the baby and learn about an infant’s needs and unique temperament. The Roots of Empathy program reduces levels of aggression and bullying among school children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.

Catherine Talbot, International Liaison for Roots of Empathy acknowledged the efforts made by families, instructors and schools to make the program such a success.

The Baby Celebration also recognized the many people who contribute to the local success of Roots of Empathy including Bluewater District, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, and Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Boards as well as community partners Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services and Kids & Us.

To learn more about Roots of Empathy, please visit www.rootsofempathy.org

For More Information:

Amanda McManaman

Roots of Empathy, Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1293

A.Mcmanaman@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca

A STOP workshop will be held in Owen Sound on Monday, June 25. For more information, to see if you are eligible to participate, and to register for the workshop call the Grey Bruce Health Unit at 1-800-263-3456 ext. 2231.

For many smokers, the cost of nicotine replacement products can be a barrier to quitting. The STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Program workshop offers eligible participants in Grey and Bruce Counties five weeks of cost-free nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation information to help them in their quit attempt.

Nicotine replacement therapy has been shown to effectively help people quit smoking by easing withdrawal symptoms. Workshop participants also receive educational material with quit smoking and relapse prevention strategies, along with information to address other unhealthy lifestyle factors that are known to accompany smoking.

A STOP workshop will be held in Owen Sound on Monday, June 25. For more information, to see if you are eligible to participate, and to register for the workshop call the Grey Bruce Health Unit at 1-800-263-3456 ext. 2231. The Grey Bruce Health Unit is partnering with the STOP Program to offer this local workshop. The STOP Program is led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of its Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy. CAMH is Canada’s leading addiction and mental health teaching hospital. Integrating clinical care, scientific research, education, policy development and health promotion, CAMH transforms the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.

For More Information:
Beth Karrow
Public Health Nurse
519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-345 ext. 2231
b.karrow@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca

Join us for the Bridge Opening, and then stay to watch the duck release into the Beaver River. Will your duck win?

Request for Letters of Support, Corporate Sponsorship and Members

Dear Community Member 

The Blue Mountains Curling Centre is a not-for-profit organization. Our mission is to bring back and encourage the growth of the great Canadian sport of curling within the Town of The Blue Mountains.

To do this we are seeking to use some of the available ice time within our municipal arena for regular curling and events, spectatorship and general participation. Our intention is to provide an inclusive community environment for all. This includes our local student and youth population, people with special needs, the general public and, from time to time, events that act as an economic driver within our community.

With our Easter event we launched our membership drive, and have already recruited over 80 members who have shown an interest in curling next year.  We are currently putting together our business plan.

We need to make a commitment to go ahead to the Town by June 1^st in order to secure the two days of ice we need.

We are asking you for your help to make this happen.

You can help us by:

1. Sending us a letter of support, which we can use in our presentation to the Town;
2. Becoming a corporate sponsor (We are only asking for expressions of interest at this time. We will only ask you to confirm your commitment, and level of involvement, once we have secured the ice time from the Town.)
3. Becoming a founding member (We are only asking for expressions of interest at this time. We will only ask you to confirm your commitment once we have secured the ice time from the Town.)

If you want to help us make this happen, please take the time to respond to this e-mail with a brief reply indicating how you are prepared to help, and indicating your name, and if applicable,  the name of your business and organisation.

Please respond by email to our secretary Julia Atkinson at julia@thornburylearningcentre.com.

In appreciation of your time and support,

- The Blue Mountains Curling Centre  

Joan Gaudet was named Senior of the Year 2018 at the June 4th Committee of the Whole Meeting. Read the Deputy Mayor's speech highlighting Joan's achievements.

Tonight we are here to honour Senior of the Year for 2018, Joan Gaudet. This award is part of a Provincial program that allows each municipality in Ontario the opportunity to honour one outstanding local senior, who after the age of 65 has enriched the social, cultural or civic life of his or her community.

To be considered for the award, the nominee must have made their community a better place to live. Since Joan arrived in Thornbury 12 years ago, more than one person has said, “I don’t know what we would do without her.”

While the award is for the work Joan has done since she arrived in The Blue Mountains, it is hard to talk about that without giving a little background on Joan’s beginnings as a volunteer.

Joan started volunteering at the bright young age of 10 when she began setting up and washing dishes for banquets at the YMCA. Born into a close-knit, hard-working community in Midland, she recalls being the richest child in the area, despite having no plumbing, heat or hydro. However, she was part of a community that valued respect, consideration and had incredible community spirit. Joan has maintained that desire to make a difference in the many communities she has lived in, volunteering in one way or another for over 70 years.

In reading about Joan’s volunteer experiences over the years, the words that consistently come up are “reliable”, “a force”, “commitment”, “energy”, and “enthusiasm.” One person wrote, “I am truly in awe not only of her commitment to the community but of her energy and enthusiasm in everything that she does. She is truly a role model for all of us and a great example of why we all need to get involved.”

Joan is an enthusiastic and committed member of any organization she works with. While working with the Lions, she coordinated the collection of thousands of used eyeglasses over the past few years, including over 2,500 pairs she has personally collected. She also collects and crushes thousands of pop cans yearly and holds home BBQ benefit events for needy individuals or groups. 

Joan has a great sense of fun, running about Town on her scooter while putting up posters for causes and events. Anyone who has been to her home can see that a creative and fun loving person must live there. From the immaculate gardens and art to her entryway where signs saying things like, “What if the Hokey Pokey really is what it’s all about” line the walls of her deck. And it’s worth phoning her just to hear the poem that greets those who call when she is not home.

Joan is never one to shy away from anything that is asked of her. She starts each morning at the crack of dawn, cleaning out the drop off bins at the BVO Treasure Shop. The bins fill constantly and we’re told that Joan makes sure to check in throughout the day to empty them, if needed.

Joan has also prepared delicious food for more events than anyone can recall, including food for the schoolchildren during their EQAO exams. She is an active and reliable volunteer for the Marsh St. Centre, and waters the plants at the library. In other words, she is everywhere.

Another attribute people have mentioned is Joan’s affinity for people of all ages. Her circle of friends ranges from children, to her own peers. She takes a special interest in people who need a friend, an advocate, or a shoulder to lean on. As one of them said, “In all these relationships she is accepting and never judging. The community is definitely a richer place because Joan is an active member.”

One thing you may not know about Joan is that she was born Margaret Joan McClung. She credits her great-great aunt Nellie McClung, the famous Canadian feminist, politician, author and social activist with inspiring her desire to fight for what is right. She believes her life of volunteerism has brought immeasurable rewards, and works to encourage parents and grandparents to get their children and grandchildren involved in volunteering.

Joan’s volunteerism has taken her as far as Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras, but I think that I speak for all of us when I say we are glad that Joan has chosen to settle down here.

Joan’s friendly smile and willing heart have earned her the gratitude of so many in our community. I would like you all to join with me in recognizing Joan and her countless contributions to the Town of The Blue Mountains.

Do you need funds to help get seniors involved in activities in your community? The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) for community-based projects may have the funding you need!

New Horizons for Seniors Funding Extended to June 22, 2018!

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) supports projects that are designed by and for seniors. It is designed to help seniors improve the quality of life in their communities by participating in social activities and leading active lives. Eligible applicants may receive up to $25,000 in the form of a grant under the Community-based Projects Component and up to $5,000 in the form of a grant under the Small grants Initiative Pilot.

Projects must address one or more of the Programs Five Objectives:

• promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations;
• engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;
• expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and;
• providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and programs for seniors.

NEW – National Level Priorities

The Department also has introduced the following three national-level priorities inspired by the desire to solicit applications designed by seniors, for seniors:

1. Projects that would benefit vulnerable seniors populations;
2. Projects focusing on the diversity of Canada’s seniors; and,
3. Projects that would use volunteerism to increase an organization’s capacity.

NEW PILOT – Small grants Initiative

This year, NHSP is testing new ways to expand support to seniors organizations that have projects for their vulnerable population including those that have not received funding in the last five years (since 2012-2013 Call for proposals). These organizations can apply for the small grants up to $5,000 per project or for the Community-based funding of up to $25,000 (but not for both). In the context of Small grants Initiative, priority will be given to projects for seniors and meet at least one of the three national priorities.

Under the Small grants Initiative, three sub-streams are proposed:

1. IT equipment upgrade: to purchase computers or tablets;
2. Capital assets for current or new activities; and,
3. Projects that increase volunteerism, mentoring, and social inclusion.

Details about the Program, including the Standard Grant Application for Funding and the NHSP Applicant Guide are available on the Web site: NHSP. For more information, you can also call 1-800-277-9914 and select “0” (TTY: 1-800- 255-4786).