Dear Frontenac News and readers,

Please allow me to respond to the July 24th editorial “One take on the shortage of primary care physicians” by Dr. Emma Cronk. Being a rural family physician myself, I applaud Dr. Cronk’s achievements, concern for her community, and desire to serve the health care needs of her rural community. I am concerned, however, that her years south of the border have led to a careless disregard for facts and a tendency to blame foreigners for our complicated domestic issues.

Dr. Cronk’s letter might lead people to believe that students from Saudi Arabia and other countries are taking up spots in medical schools and/or family medicine programs that would otherwise go to Canadians, but the data simply do not support that. I consulted the publicly available 2018 Canadian Medical Education Statistics produced by The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada to gather information on how many international students are attending Canadian medical schools at the undergraduate level and the post-graduate residency program or fellowship level. The document is 161 pages long, but I’ll share a few interesting facts I discovered.

First, let me address the undergraduate (= medical school) situation. Of the 2,872 new medical students throughout Canada in 2018, only 9 of those students (=0.3%) were not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Three of those students came from the USA, and six came from elsewhere. Those spots were not “held” for foreign students … they competed for them. Of the 13,635 Canadian students (citizens and permanent residents) who applied for spots in a Canadian medical school in 2018, 19% were admitted. Only 3.4% of the 294 foreign students who applied for spots in Canadian medical schools were admitted. Of all the foreign students currently attending a medical school in Canada as an undergraduate (i.e. as a medical student) there is only one single student from Saudi Arabia here on a student visa. The country most represented in terms of foreign students attending Canadian medical schools on student visas is actually France, with a total of nine students.

Second, let me address the issue of foreign students and international medical graduates (IMGs) at the post-graduate or residency level. It is certainly true that some residency programs reserve spots for IMGs. Among the 1,466 trainees who began a family medicine residency program in 2017, 238 (16.2%) had earned their medical degree outside Canada, just as Dr. Cronk did. It is important to note that 49% of all post-graduate trainees in residency programs or fellowships are actually Canadian citizens or permanent residents who earned their medical degree outside of Canada, and are now returning to complete their training and hopefully practice in Canada. Looking at family medicine programs in particular, only 18 of the 3,514 family medicine trainees (0.5%) in 2018 were not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

The IMGs I trained with in the Queen’s University Family Medicine program were all Canadians, or married to a Canadian, and all planning to practice in Canada. Moreover, acceptance into the family medicine residency program as an IMG is conditional upon signing a “Return of Service” commitment, in which the IMG resident promises to practice in an Ontario for at least five years after completion of their training. They do not take their training and run back to some other country to practice.

Yes, in 2017 there were 1,561 doctors from other countries who came to Canada on student visas for post-graduate training, but they come here to train in specialties such as thoracic surgery (62.5% of trainees), neonatology (56.3%), pediatric general surgery (50%), cardiac surgery (48.6%), and critical care / ICU (45.2%) – not family medicine (0.5%). Yes, in some cases the medical schools receive money from other countries to fund the specialty training of international students. These international funds help to subsidize the cost of training for Canadian students. How is that a bad thing? I think it’s great!

Looking at the actual numbers of international students in medical schools and these various residency training programs, I fail to see how this practice of training international students contributes to the shortage of family doctors in rural areas. I could go on for another few pages about numerous other factors that do contribute to the shortage of family doctors in rural areas, but I will not. I just hope that I have to some extent dispelled the notion that international students are to blame.

To Dr. Cronk, I share your frustrations about our shortage of rural family doctors, and I appreciate how much it pains you that you are not able to step in and fill that need for your community. It is indeed a tragedy that Dr. Cronk is currently unable to live and serve in our area. Perhaps Dr. Cronk’s experience could inform future policy to prioritize excellent candidates who have their heart set on rural family practice.

Sincerely,

Sabra Gibbens MD, CCFP

Family Physician in Verona

Pam Morey knows dementia is random, relentless and frighteningly common.

Speaking from her administrative office at Frontenac Arena in mid-January, Morey is passionate about building a strong and healthy community, one issue at a time.

“I think we should all share more information. It makes us more united,” said the 49-year-old.

Known for her work as President of the Harrowsmith and District Social & Athletic Club, and the Chair of South Frontenac Recreation 2017 & 2018, Morey is working to increase the community’s awareness of dementia.

“I want to let people know there is support out there,” she explains. “To give people better tools to communicate and understand people with dementia.”

Considered a serious health problem in Frontenac County and across Canada, dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life. Memory loss is an example. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia, making up 50 to 70 per cent of cases. Common symptoms include emotional problems, problems with language, and a decrease in motivation

“We’re inviting people to learn about dementia, behaviours, how you can help to reduce stigma, support those living with dementia and their families,” says Morey about the free dementia friendly training at the club’s hall in Harrowsmith on Jan. 24.

“This training is for everyone who works or volunteers in the community,” she explains. “If you deal with the community, you should be at this meeting. It is also open to anyone interested in being more educated about this disease.”

Grateful to call Harrowsmith home, Morey hopes to make Frontenac County closer and stronger with education and communication.

“I love being a part of this community,” she confirms. “I’m proud to be a part of the Social and Athletic club which offers local entertainment and recreation. These activities bring us together and give us opportunities to meet our neighbours.”

Married with children, she adds, “I feel we should all be involved in our community so we can support and help each other. This training is a good education piece because the rate of aging people is going up. Young people need to be better educated about this issue and how to relate to people with dementia.”

The workshop is being held in January to coincide with Alzheimer Awareness Month. The community is encouraged to show its support of the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Alzheimer Society by joining a coffee break at the Frontenac Arena this Saturday and Sunday (Jan. 20 and 21). Coffee proceeds from 7 am to 10 pm will be donated to the society.

The dementia friendly training will be held from 7 to 8:30 pm on Jan. 24 at the club hall, located at 4041 Colebrook Road in Harrowsmith. To register, please contact Pam Morey at 613-929-7003 or write This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Chris Jarvis is a former Olympic rower who has had type one diabetes since he was thirteen. He rowed for team Canada for eight years, competing in Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008, and in 2007 he won a gold medal for Canada in the Pan American Games. Competitive rowing is a tough, demanding team sport, and diabetes can be a difficult disease to manage.

Today, Chris dedicates his time to helping young people who are dealing with diabetes, by going into schools to spread information about diabetes on his “Diabuddies” tour, and through a non-profit group he founded, called ICD. The letters stand for “I Challenge Diabetes”, and the goal is to help people take control of diabetes while challenging themselves physically.

Chris was invited by Jennifer and Kyle Palmer to speak at Harrowsmith Public School last week.

Their son Kieran, who is in Junior Kindergarten there, was diagnosed with type one diabetes when he was two years old. He’s one of two children at the school who are living with diabetes.

The whole school filed into the gym and settled on the floor, sounding like a convention of coyotes, suddenly quieting when Chris began to speak. He told of his sense of isolation as a child, not knowing how to explain his frequent need to test his blood sugar level, and the insulin pump he wore on his belt.

He talked about the coach who kicked him off the team when he learned Chris had diabetes, saying “I don’t want you; if there are complications, you could ruin it for everyone.” And of the friends and teammates who stuck up for him many times, and in that particular case, got the coach to change his mind.

Chris demonstrated how he tested his blood sugar level. He explained that with Diabetes 1, the pancreas, which normally regulates the level of sugar in the blood keeping it neither too high nor too low, has stopped functioning, so the individual must take over the job. This requires a careful balancing of food, exercise and insulin, the chemical usually provided by the pancreas, for without the right amount of sugar a person could grow dizzy and pass out.

Chris reassured the children that Diabetes 1 wasn’t a disease that a person could ‘catch’ from others, or by eating too much sugar: it happened when a person’s pancreas stopped working. He spoke of ways friends could help a person with diabetes through their understanding, support and willingness to go for help if needed. Throughout, he emphasized and demonstrated with his own life story, that a person can live with a disease and still be healthy. From the applause of the audience, it sounded like Chris encouraged a lot of ‘Diabuddies” at Harrowsmith Public.

(Note: for more accurate and detailed information about diabetes, go to the Diabetes Canada website)

Kyle Gordon looks remarkably different than he did a year ago.

Sitting at a picnic table in a public park in Kingston on July 8, the owner of the Battersea Creekside Bar & Grill smiles when asked about his appearance.

“I’ve lost 14 pounds,” he said.

With his 40th birthday right around the corner, Kyle decided last October to make his health a priority.

“It was time for a life change,” acknowledges the friendly father of three about his state-of-mind nine months ago.

Determined to live a healthier life, Kyle started training last May for the Sydenham Try a Tri on July 9.

Enjoying the sunshine at a charity fundraiser the day before his triathlon, the Battersea man had all of the signs of an athlete nervous about their first competitive race.

“I just hope I can finish it,” he admits with a laugh.

Holding the leash of his dog as he watched his children mingle with the crowd, Kyle’s concern for his health extends beyond himself and his family. Since arriving in Battersea, he has made the community closer and stronger by organizing & supporting fundraisers for residents and social projects.

His latest project is to revitalize a playground beside the local ball diamond.

“I love doing events,” he says with enthusiasm about his role on a committee that is on the cusp of meeting its goal of $38,000 to replace outdated equipment in the park.

“It’s amazing,” says Kyle about the group’s progress over the past year. “We are less than $2,000 shy of reaching our goal and almost one year ahead of schedule.”

To help them reach their target, committee members are hosting a charity golf tournament on Aug. 25 at Inverary Golf Course. The tournament costs $90 to enter and includes 18 holes of golf, dinner, sleeve of golf balls and a prize valued at $20 or more. Each participant will also receive a tax receipt for $40.

The committee hopes to raise at least $4,500 at the event which will be used to improve the park.

Knowing a successful event will put the committee over its goal, Kyle knows what to do with any extra money.

“We want to add some trees and do some landscaping,” he explains about the purchased material that will accompany donated labour and equipment by Gilbert & Son Landscaping.

Happy to be so close to achieving the campaign goal, Kyle is clearly not content to rest on his laurels. Another fitness challenge in most likely in his future, as is another project to improve his community. His ambition and energy have their own momentum, sweeping down the village main street like a breath of fresh air.

“I also want to put in a splash pad as well,” he said.

To register (or donate a prize) for the golf tournament, please contact Kyle Gordon at 613-353-1102 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The extremely damp weather didn’t deter some resilient participants of the Canada Day Walk/Run event.  Approximately 60 walkers and runners came out for a mild but very wet outing along the trail.  The route had to be modified due to some flooding, but other areas could not be avoided.  Large puddles covered sections of the trail, causing some to weave and avoid and others to run right through them.  

Dedicated volunteers assisted with registration, route set up, and water stations and cheered on the participants along the way.

Overall the event was a success and it was great to see young and old out enjoying our trail no matter the weather.  Close to four-hundred dollars was raised which will be donated to the Granite Ridge Education Centre to assist with transportation for youth to athletic events.

Pat Evans lives in the village of Portland in North Leeds. She has Parkinson's disease and is an advocate for services and patient support groups in North Leeds and Lanark, and now Frontenac, Counties. She is one of the organisers of a SuperWalk fund raising event in Perth this coming September.

A volunteer with Parkinson Canada, she is reaching out to residents of Frontenac County because she has learned since moving to Portland a number of years ago Parkinson sufferers in rural communities face the challenge of isolation as they struggle with the disease.

“When I moved to Portland from Toronto I found there were main advantages to living in the country. Clean air, a better pace of life, and more, but access to services for Parkinson's is more difficult and rural isolation is a major issue,” she said when she visited the Frontenac News offices last month for an interview.

To combat isolation and help provide the kind of information people living with Parkinson’s require in order to live a good life while coping with the disease, Pat got involved with the support group in Perth, which meets monthly. The support group enables people to talk about what they face each day with others who are facing similar issues, and are open to care partners, friends and family as well.

Margaux Wolfe, who works for Parkinson Canada out of Ottawa, said “there are 22 support groups in Eastern Ontario, including one in Kingston. They are generally open to people living with Parkinson’s and care partners, friends and family. They are a safe place for people to  gather information, share daily challenges.  Groups also bring in guest speakers who come in to educate people living with Parkinson’s.

“It is also about hope,” said Pat Evans. “Our people are determined to do better and to feel better, and to gain strength. The support group is really, really important for that.”

Parkinson Canada describes Parkinson's Disease as a “chronic, degenerative brain disease, resulting from the loss of dopamine producing neurons. Dopamine controls a person’s motor functions (voluntary movements) such as walking, speech and handwriting. It also affects non-motor functions such as mood, attention and sleep. When the dopamine producing cells die, Parkinson symptoms appear.”

Parkinson's affects about 100,000 Canadians, and about 7 million people worldwide from all ethnic backgrounds. Since the average age of onset is 60, the number of sufferers is set to rise in the coming years, particularly in Eastern Ontario where the population is older than the rest of the country.

“The number of people who will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in Canada will double over the next 20 years,” said Alan Muir, of the Ottawa office of Parkinson Canada. “There are four pillars to what we do at Parkinson Canada, we fund research, provide support services,  education, and assist with advocacy efforts.”

The rate at which Parkinson’s progresses, as well as the symptoms people experience is unique to each individual, and individuals react in different ways to treatment as well.

There are a broad range of symptoms including: tremors or shaking, slowness in movement, muscle stiffness, balance problems, drooling, soft speech, stooped posture, sleep disturbances, changes in cognition, depression, change in ability to taste and smell, and hallucinations.

As part of the advocacy work that Parkinson Canada does, they have been advocating to the Local Health Integration Network for Southeast Ontario for more movement disorder specialists in local communities. There are a couple in Kingston, and efforts to bring one to Almonte and Carleton Place and through the Perth Hospital are ongoing.

Pat Evans is also working with a committee to bring the first Super Walk fund raiser to Conlon Farms in Perth on Saturday, September 9 at 9:30am. Information about the walk is available at donate.parkinson.ca/lanarknorthleeds or parkinsonsuperwalk.ca.

A walk is also scheduled for Kingston on the same day at 11am at Lake Ontario Park. To register or donate to the Kingston walk go to parkinsonsuperwalk.ca.

For information about the monthly support group in Perth contact Margaux Wolfe, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1-800-565-3000 ext.3425
For information about the monthly support group in Kingston contact Diane Newman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 1-800-565-300 ext. 3315

The Food Policy Council for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington is seeking up to four individuals to join the Council.

“The Food Policy Council (FPC) for KFL&A is working to create a healthy, food-secure region with sustainable local agriculture and equitable access to adequate, healthy food,” says Susan Belyea, co-chair of the FPC.

“We are eager to welcome new Council members who are passionate about creating a healthier food system through policy,” says Nan Hudson, FPC co-chair.  “People who are able to commit to the time it requires to review and develop good food policy are invited to apply now, to join the council in September, 2017.”

The Council’s work is guided by the KFL&A Food Charter which envisions a secure and sustainable food system for our region. Its main activities include serving as a forum to discuss food issues, assessing the food system in KFL&A, and informing and influencing food and food-related policies and programs.  

Membership is open to individuals, 18 years of age and older, who live or work in KFL&A area, and  who share a passion for the vision of the KFL&A Food Charter, and have expertise or other resources that would be assets in working on FPC activities.
For more information about the FPC and to fill out an application, go to: www.foodpolicykfla.ca

The deadline to apply is Friday, July 7, 2017 at 8:00 pm.  Those selected for the Council will be asked to commit to a two-year renewable term. The selection committee will review all the applications, and complete interviews in late July and early August 2017.

Info – Dianne Dowling, 613-546-0869 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“Yoga is accessible for everybody and every body,” says Jackie Adams, who began her yoga practice “many years ago.

“It was in the ’70s and I liked the clothes they were wearing.”

Adams had her own yoga studio in Kingston where she taught classes for many years.

These days, she’s more into bringing yoga to people in many communities and last Saturday was at Bellrock Hall for a session focused on families.

“People ask me ‘can I come even if I don’t have kids?’” she said. “I tell them ‘no, get some kids.’”

She’s chuckling a bit as she says that but she is serious about it being a family activity.

“We’ll see what happens (as to yoga in Bellrock), what the ladies here want,” she said. “This is a lovely hall, a small community and there’s lots of kids.”

She admits it takes a bit of doing to keep a wide range of ages focused, but that’s OK, she’s been working on it for quite some time.

“You have to look after the 4-year-olds and the 50-year-olds,” she said. “They have different attention spans.

“In a non-family setting, you might hold poses longer and work in more philosophy but I think it’s still important to understand why you’re doing the pose.”

Adams is big on the health benefits of yoga.

“I had serious health issues of my own and yoga has helped with that,” she said. “All yoga is about keeping the joints squishy and the body functioning better.

“You know a sedentary lifestyle leads to stress issues.”

But the obvious physical health benefits aside, Adams said that the mental benefits are equally as important.

“You know, when I first started yoga, I liked the way the yogis treated each other,” she said. “It calms the mind and for a little bit, you’re not thinking about anything else.

“All the chatter in the mind drives us crazy.”

Adams is a practitioner of the the classic Hatha yoga.

For more information about her classes in Bellrock, Verona and elsewhere, contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 613-358-9642.

“I’m really happy to show up to deliver yoga,” she said.

In conjunction with the Kingston Community Health Centre, Registered Nurses Annie Campbell (Verona) and Meredith Prikker (Sydenham) offer 6 week courses in the spring and fall for Frontenac County residents with chronic diseases and chronic pain.

The spring course, Living Well with Chronic Disease, is aimed at people with lung or heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, those who have suffered a stroke or have another long term condition. Anyone can attend, no doctor referrals are needed.

“The course offers coping strategies, it deals with the emotional, physical and social aspects of living with a chronic condition, and is also useful for caregivers,” said Meredith Prikker.

The workshops, which will run on 6 consecutive Wednesdays from 1:30 to 4:00 starting on May 24 at the Verona medical clinic, are being offered by Annie Campbell and Meridith Prikker

The workshops were designed by Stanford University in order to bring people together to help find ways of coping with their challenges. Registration is on a first come, first served basis and up to 12 people can be accommodated. For further information, contact Annie Campbell at the Verona clinic by calling 613-374-2077.

Living Well With Chronic Pain will be offered in Verona again September, and a series may be offered in Sydenham once the new clinic is up and running.

In 1990 a small group of women formed a support group in South Frontenac.  They called themselves  'The Sydenham/Harrowsmith Breast Cancer Support group'.  At first the group met monthly at each others homes, but as the group continued to grow a larger venue was needed.  St. Paul's United Church in Harrowsmith opened their arms in welcoming support.  On the second Tuesday of each month approximately 25 women would gather for a hearty home-cooked lunch,  after which the church offered a private meeting space.   The meetings often included guest speakers detailing new treatments & relaxation techniques. However, the main component of each meeting was always camaraderie with a strong emphasis on humour.  At the close of each meeting a member was presented with a fresh flower arrangement provided by Christine Kennedy, the  owner of  Memory Lane Flowers in Sydenham.  Christine is a true 'petal pusher' and supporter.  For more than a decade she has donated a monthly bouquet and each Christmas every member is presented with a gift wrapped pink carnation.

Sadly, when St. Paul's United Church closed in 2016 many groups were left homeless.  At least it felt that way.  The breast cancer support group had established a strong bond with St. Paul's; more so with the volunteers who catered the Tuesday luncheons.  How could we possibly replace those smiling faces and willing hands.  Enter Yarker.  Calls were made and soon the group was invited to hold lunches at Riverside United church.  Lunch is served at 12 noon.  The cost for a home-made lunch is $7.00 and it consists of a soup choice, sandwich, dessert and beverage.  After each meeting the minister; Stephanie Klaassen has provided us with a private meeting space.

Along, with the new location it was also decided that the group needed a new name.  This support group now has approximately 45 members coming from Kingston, Amherstview as well as  several of the small towns in South Frontenac.  We offer hope, inspiration, friendship, education, laughter and sometimes tears.  But most  importantly a feeling that you are never alone on this journey.  There is nothing more hopeful to a newly diagnosed person than meeting a group of healthy, happy, IN THE PINK survivors.

The next meeting is on Thursday, February 16th at 12 noon.  The volunteers at Riverside United church need to know how much food to prepare so if you plan to attend call Ann at 613-572-1368 or Kim at 613-214-1329.

May we do more to keep our small country churches open.  The outreach is so much more than a Sunday service.