Back to HomeFeature Article - January 22, 2009 Community ambulance committee responds to L&A ambulance review

by Jeff Green

The Community Ambulance Committee of Denbigh has released a detailed position paper in response to the Lennox and Addington (L&A) ambulance review that was completed in September of 2008.

The paper concludes “that the Denbigh Ambulance Base is in a critical geographic location and that it cannot be moved without severely impacting the health of the people that it currently serves.”

Almost a year ago, in light of the announcement of an organizational review of ambulance service in Lennox and Addington County, a community ambulance committee was formed to deal specifically with concerns about the northern service area in the County, specifically the Denbigh ambulance base.

Paul Isaacs, the chair of the committee, told the News last week that the ambulance committee was “quietly requested to stay on the sidelines until the service review was out. We felt we had to put something on paper after that.”

The service review, which was conducted by the IBI group, discussed the high cost of the maintaining the Denbigh and Northbrook bases in relation to call volumes. It also contained significant detail about the number of calls to both stations that come from outside of the borders of L&A (into Frontenac, Renfrew, and Hastings Counties)

The report outlined four options regarding service to the north end of the County. Of these the most expensive option would be to maintain the bases at Northbrook and Denbigh. Others include repositioning both bases, cutting back service in the Denbigh base, or closing both bases and opening one somewhere in between the other two.

In order to maintain the Denbigh base at its current location, with 24 hours of service, the IBI group report implies that a cost-sharing agreement with neighbouring municipalities, “splitting the cost of the two northern bases in proportion to the volume of calls these bases attend within their respective jurisdictions”, would be necessary.

In their response, the Community Ambulance Committee decided not to enter into the debate about how much neighbouring municipalities are willing to pay for cross borders services in rural and remote areas. Instead, it argues that the province needs to step in.

It says, “The provincial government made a serious error in ‘downloading’ land ambulance service to upper-tier municipalities. Ambulance service is a time-critical service that had no regard for jurisdictional boundaries.”

Among the 22 points in the summary supporting the conclusion that the ambulance service should be preserved as is at Denbigh, the ambulance committee made the point that, with the exception of a twice weekly clinic conducted by Doctor Tobia from Northbrook, there are no other medical services available for Denbigh residents, and that very few County services, save ambulance service, have an impact in the northern end of the County. It also says, “The geography of the County dictates that adequate ambulance service for the County can not be provided without an ambulance base in Denbigh.”

It suggested that, given the lack of other medical services in Denbigh, an alternate use of ambulance personnel may be considered. “Denbigh would be better served if the ambulance service provided non-emergency medical services in addition to ambulance emergency service,” it says.

The position paper has been submitted to L&A County, and Addington Highlands Township.

“We will see what response we will get,” said Paul Isaac, “we felt that we had an obligation to put out our position so that whenever things do happen we will have made our case in a strong and logical manner.” 

Back to HomeFeature Article - January 15, 2009 New seniors’ centre in Sharbot Lake

by Julie Druker

Catherine Tysick in front of the United Church Manse.

The Community Support Services program that is run out of Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) will soon be opening a brand new seniors’ centre in Sharbot Lake.

The location of the new centre is the old manse of the Sharbot Lake United Church, directly across from the Freshmart.

Programs like the adult day program, which is currently being run out of the second floor of the Sharbot Lake Seniors Home, will be moved to the new centre, which is easily accessible, central, and spacious. The new centre will be able to facilitate the needs of Central and North Frontenac seniors who choose to live at home and remain independent but are need of community services.

Grants have been instrumental in supporting the project. United Way Kingston supplied a $25,000 grant and another $4000 was granted by the Community of Greater Kingston.

Catherine Tysick, who heads up the Community Support Services for NFCS and who has been on board since the project’s first inception, adds that community members have also generously donated to the cause. The donations and grants are being used to renovate the building. Renovations began in December and are well underway.

Already a large ramp has been added to the entrance, making it wheelchair accessible. Inside, a space on the main floor is in the process of becoming a wheelchair accessible washroom facility that will be equipped with a bath. Tysick points out, “With the Adult Day Program, a big part of it is providing personal care and so bathroom facilities are very important.”

While the space is being designed to serve the needs of existing programs like the Adult Day Program, the Foot Care Clinic, and the Caregivers’ Support Group, Tysick also envisions the space as providing facilities that currently are not available due to lack of space.

Hearing aid clinics, blood pressure clinics, and services and programs offered by the Alzheimers Society (with whom NFCS has partnered on this project), are all potential and viable services that Tysick sees as coming to fruition in this new location.

She points out that the main floor kitchen facility may be used by volunteers to provide a cooking program where participants can cook meals, which then could be taken home by the seniors.

The building is a two storey, 3 bedroom house and Tysick points out the possibility of designating one of the bedrooms on the second floor to be used as a respite space to give relief to full-time caregivers.

She explains, “Caregivers who don’t have other alternative places to rest could come here for a whole day, rest and relax and get a break.”

Other second floor rooms will be used as meeting spaces and for storage. There is also a washer and dryer in the building as well. The backyard offers a potential outdoor space that could be made available to the seniors in the warmer months.

Tysick adds, “It takes time. We don’t have big, big plans, but we do have a plan and we are waiting to see how it unfolds. A lot of that will be determined by the community and financial resources too.”

Tysick explains, “It’s a work in progress and we’ve been asking clients ‘What do you think would be the value of having this designated place?’”

Tysick is thankful to the United Church Centenary Pastoral Charge, which includes Maberly, Parham & Sharbot Lake United Churches, who have been instrumental in making the project a reality by providing an affordable space for lease. She says, “They are really partnering with us to make this possible.”

Tysick is hoping that the facility will be usable by March of this year. “Everything takes time and we were hoping that we would be ready by Christmas, but now we’re hoping for March.”

This is an exciting project that holds a lot of potential for increasing services to seniors in the area. Tysick says, “It offers us the opportunity to do more.” 

by Peter Graham, Lawyer, Rural Legal Services

The Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services has undertaken a project to review and reform the Ontario Corporations Act (CA) in order to develop a new legal framework to govern the structure and activities of charities and not-for-profit corporations in Ontario. The update of the legislation promises to modernize and improve the basic corporate governance rules for not-for-profit corporations.

The Ministry has requested feedback on several issues including the incorporation process, corporate powers and capacity, directors and officers, membership and corporate finance. The consultation process has been going on since May of 2007 when the first of three discussion papers was released. I propose to review some of the key issues under consideration. Further details may be obtained from the Ministry website at www.gov.on.ca/mgs/en/AbtMin/198247.html.

Should the CA move from a letters patent system of incorporation to a system of incorporation “as of right”?

Currently, not-for-profit corporations are incorporated in Ontario through the filing of an application for letters patent, which is an old form of incorporation where the government has total discretion to allow a corporation to incorporate. Ministry staff reviews the applications and has authority to require revisions to the objects or purposes of the corporation if they appear to fall outside the scope of the statute.

The issue is whether the government should allow applicants to incorporate “as of right”, subject to certain statutory conditions, such as restrictions on corporate names.

A related issue is the extent to which not-for-profit corporations should be limited in their activities. Currently, not-for-profits are limited under the doctrine of ultra vires to activities which are specifically within the ambit of the objects set out in their letters patent.

Should Directors’ Liability be limited?

Currently, the CA lacks provisions that set out the duty of care, standard of care, and defences against liability applicable to directors of not-for-profits. Directors may be personally liable to account for losses from breach of their fiduciary duties, conflict of interest, fraud, negligence, or criminal behaviour. Directors may also be personally liable for unpaid wages, taxes, and pension contributions if the corporation becomes insolvent.

This is an important issue due to the difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified directors in the face of the increasing potential for liability due to the wide range of activities in which not-for-profits are now engaged. A balance must be struck between the potential liability of persons who perform valuable public services as volunteer directors and the need for accountability to those who suffer losses from breaches of duties by directors.

 

Should certain corporations be allowed to opt for a financial review in lieu of a full audit?

The CA requires not-for-profit corporations whose annual income is $100,000 or more to undergo an annual audit. Audits are a way of promoting financial accountability and transparency.

An audit involves the analysis of a corporation’s financial records and operations by a public accountant, and includes the testing of each significant item on a corporation’s financial statement to provide reasonable assurance that a corporation’s financial statements accurately represent its financial position. However, the cost and administrative burden associated with undergoing an annual audit can be considerable, especially for small not-for-profits. To minimize this expense, some not-for-profit statutes permit corporations to undergo a financial review in lieu of an audit, if annual incomes fall within a given threshold. A review is also performed by a public accountant, but involves less extensive procedures to provide reasonable assurance that a corporation’s financial statements are plausible. A review provides a lower degree of credibility than is achieved by an audit, but is much less expensive than a full audit.

Should standard, default by-laws be included in the new CA?

By-laws are a key way in which a corporation establishes rules for its governance, especially rules for conducting meetings and assigning responsibilities to directors and officers. They are an important part of supplying a not-for-profit corporation with the framework to effectively carry out its activities.

The CA currently establishes the directors’ power to pass by-laws in respect of a list of items, including the admission of members, fees and dues of members, termination and transfer of memberships, etc. but does not provide any guidance as to the nature and form of the by-laws.

The drafting of by-laws can be a complex task which may cause difficulty for some not-for-profits, especially those who are unable to afford legal services. In some cases, not-for-profits are left either without by-laws to govern their corporation’s affairs, or with a set of inadequate by-laws. One way of overcoming this problem is to include standard by-laws in the CA that would apply to every not-for-profit corporation, unless the corporation adopted different by-laws.

This suggestion is a good one with no apparent drawbacks. From this lawyer’s experience, having a basic by-law available for not-for-profit corporations would be of great assistance to not-for-profits and their directors.

 

Legalese is a column of general information and opinion on legal topics by the lawyers of Rural Legal Services, Box 359, Sharbot Lake, ON, K0H2P0, 613-279-3252, or 1-888-777-8916. This column is not intended to provide legal advice. You should contact a lawyer to determine your legal rights and obligations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Mayor Janet Gutowski, Dave Smith and Gale Chevalier with the defibrillator

The North Frontenac Telephone Company head office in Sharbot Lake is the latest Frontenac County recipient of a Public Access Defibrillator, thanks to the efforts of Frontenac Paramedic Services Deputy Chief Gale Chevalier.

Chevalier, who was on hand last Friday for the presentation of the defibrillator to North Frontenac Telephone General Manager Dave Smith, raised the $2,500 cost of the unit in the 2010 Becel Ride for Heart EMS/PAD challenge last summer. She gathered pledges from her friends and colleagues to cycle on the Don Valley Parkway in Toronto last June.

The paramedic services work closely with the volunteer fire departments, and Bill Young, a member of the Central Frontenac Fire Department who works at North Frontenac Telephone Company, suggested locating a defibrillator there.

“North Frontenac Telephone Company has a free-to-use facility in our basement, which any community organization or person may use for any sort of function they may be having. It can range from only a handful of people, to sometimes upwards of 50. We understand that the public use defibrillators save lives, and we can't begin to express the thanks to Gale, and all of her hard work in obtaining the defibrillator to donate to us.”

There are quite a number of public access defibrillators in the county now, some funded as part of MP Scott Reid’s campaign and others through the efforts of the paramedic services.

And more are on the way. The Frontenac Paramedic Services will be entering a team in this year's Becel Ride for Heart on June 5. Eight team members will ride, with the goal of raising enough money for three more defibrillators for distribution throughout the county (see the ad on page 6).

 

Northern Frontenac CommunityServices (NFCS) and the Rebekahs and Odd Fellows of Harrowsmith are working together to offer a county-wide video dance, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Frontenac Arena, 4299 Arena Boundary Road in Piccadilly just north of Verona.

The D.J., Sound on Sound Productions will be bringing two 9' x 12' screens along with special effects, lasers and lights, and a canteen will be on site to enhance the evening for the youth. 

Both organizations are very excited to be offering this dance to the youth of the region. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $6.00 per person and the dance is open to youth aged 9 to 15. 

Proceeds from this event will be split 50/50 between the two organizations to continue to offer programs and services in the County of Frontenac. 

The Rebekahs and Odd Fellows of Harrowsmith host youth dances every two weeks at the Golden Links Hall in Harrowsmith, and NFCS has been offering dances to youth in the Northern part of the County out of Sharbot Lake every 2 months. 

Both organizations came together in the winter to discuss the possibility of offering a county wide dance for the youth of the region.  With much enthusiasm, and willingness to partner, the end result is an opportunity for youth to come together and enjoy the evening in a safe and fun location.

A venue had to be picked that was big enough to hold the anticipated number of youth coming, and it was decided that the Frontenac Arena was large enough to host.  Rink Manager, Jim Stinson, was very willing to assist in this venture and made sure that the rink was available the night that was needed. 

Northern Frontenac Community Services delivers a wide array of programs and services for children, youth, adults and seniors.  It operates an Ontario Early Years Centre for children and families and it has a licensed child care centre for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school aged children.  At our Adult Services building, there are programs and services for seniors, family and individual counseling, and support for at risk adults.  The organization also operates Frontenac Transportation System to assist families and individuals who require support with transportation needs.

Photo: Some of the professionals at the Sharbot Lake seniors’ fair: l-r, April McCann, Jennifer Allan, Bonnie Peacock, Nancy Willis, Laurie Watson, Rae Gateley and June Hickman

With the theme of “Living Life to its Fullest” the second annual Sharbot Lake Region Seniors’ Fair, held at St. James Major Church on May 9, attracted many seniors in the community looking for new ways of doing just that.

Opening the fair with an interactive presentation on the topic of falls prevention and staying fit was physiotherapist Sarah Emory, who works with Kingston Limestone Health. She focused on how seniors can improve their mobility and overall fitness with a number of exercises and tests and had visitors actively exploring their own abilities. Other presenters in the day’s line up included Carol Belanger's yoga, Qi Gong and exercise demonstrations, and Bonnie Peacock of Osteoporosis Canada, who spoke about prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The hall was lined with numerous booth displays staffed by local professionals offering various types of services and advice to seniors on a number of health-related topics. Included were the Northern Connections Adult Learning Centre, which offers beginner computer classes; Fit Plus Gym, which is offering a seniors’ exercise class; Walk Well Shoes, with information on proper foot wear and custom made inserts; and dietician Jennifer Allan of the Sharbot Lake Family Health Team (SLFHT) offering advice on healthy eating options and recipes for seniors. Rita Fairweather, a registered nurse and diabetes educator with the SLFHT, was offering advice on pre-diabetes and diabetes, its prevention, symptoms and treatment. Also present was Bob Fisher of the Sharbot Lake branch of the KFL&A's Alzheimer's Society, offering information about education, diagnosis and support for various types of dementia. Representatives from the Canadian Diabetes Association and KFL &A's Falls Prevention Program were also represented.

Jennifer Allan, one of the organizers, said that the fair’s main goal was to connect seniors in the community with service providers in the area. “It's like a one-stop shopping event for seniors looking for services in the area. We felt that having all of the service providers under a single roof at the same time would make a lot of sense for seniors and increase their awareness of the existing services in the area while also promoting the development of personal relationships between providers and their potential clients.”

The fair was not all facts, figures and advice. Visitors were also treated to a number of door prizes donated by area businesses, a special lunch courtesy of W.A . Robinson and Associates, and the joyful harmonies of the Arden Glee Club. “If the visitors come away having acquired just one piece of information that will help them improve their quality of life and overall health, then we can all rest assured that we have done our job today”, Jennifer said.

 

The popular Travel for Tots fundraiser that is put on each year by Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) has changed its focus this year.

The fundraiser has always raised money for the transportation program that helps children from around the region access services that NCFS provides at the Child Centre in Sharbot Lake.

But last fall the Licensed Day Care program began to run into financial problems of its own after 20 years of success delivering licensed childcare to local youngsters.

“This year, proceeds from the fundraiser will go directly to the NFCS Licensed Day Care program, which, over the past year, has undergone significant operational changes in response to declining enrolment. The lower numbers have several contributors: reduced subsidizes, the introduction of full-day kindergarten into Ontario schools, the recent economic downturn, and the normal challenges associated with operating in a rural environment,” said NFCS Executive Director Don Amos.

“The Day Care is integral to the ongoing viability of the surrounding communities, and our board of directors is exploring all options to ensure its continued success. Although unsteady enrolment in the fee-for-service program greatly impacts their bottom line, we do not want to increase fees, as it could cause even more children to leave licensed care,” he added, “and the funds we raise will help us keep those fees down.

On Saturday May 7, NFCS will be hosting “S.O.S. Save our Sharbot Lake Day Care,” a silent auction and dance, 7 pm at the Royal Kingston Curling Club, 130 Days Road.

“Once again we have some fantastic items available for the silent auction,” said event organiser Jan MacPherson. “It’s going to be a fun night.”

A limited number of tickets are available at $20 per person. To purchase tickets or make a donation, members of the public can call the Child Centre at 613-279-2244.

NFCS delivers a wide array of programs and services for children, youth, adults and seniors. It operates an Ontario Early Years Centre for children and families and it has a licensed childcare centre for infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers and school aged children. At the Adult Services building there are programs and services for seniors, family and individual counselling, and support for at risk adults. The organization also operates Rural Routes Transportation services to assist families and individuals who require support with transportation needs.

 

Addington Highlands brings in a budget increase.

Addington Highlands ratepayers will pay just under 8% more tax for local services in 2011.

The increase in the local levy, to $1.936 million from $1.8 million in 2010, comes about partly as the result of a decrease in transfer payments from the province under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. Increased fuel costs alone will cost the township about $40,000 in 2011, and the cost of waste management and recycling is up as well.

The township will be continuing to spend money on the Denbigh medical centre/schoolhouse project to the tune of $80,000, marginally more then the $75,000 they spent last year to purchase the former Denbigh school for the project.

Library costs are also up significantly, to $53,000 from $30,000 last year.

Local taxation makes up only part of the municipal tax bill that Addington Highlands ratepayers receive. Lennox and Addington County taxes are another major piece, about 40%, and since they are up about by only 2% this year, the average ratepayer in Addington Highlands will see an increase in taxes in the 5% range.

Lennox and Addington (L&A) County was the recipient of some tax relief as the province uploaded some social services costs, which could have been used to further offset increases in the local townships, but the county is embarking on a $4.6 million building project in Napanee to house all social services offered in L&A as well as Prince Edward County.

“We are doing a lot of things that we need to do, and they all cost money,” said Addington Highlands Reeve (and L&A County Warden) Henry Hogg of the township and county budgets, “so in the end I am satisfied.”

Addington Highlands Council approved the budget at their meeting on Monday in Flinton, and they will be formally adopting it by bylaw at their next meeting in Denbigh.

Unhappy gravel pit owner -

Karen Malcolm attended the council meeting to deliver a letter from her husband Gord. The Malcolms own a gravel pit and equipment operation on Hwy. 41 near Denbigh. The letter said that the township does make use of their services even when there is emergency work located in the vicinity of their pit. The incident that sparked the letter was a recent washout on Buckshot Lake Road, for which equipment and gravel was brought in from Danford Construction, which has a pit on the other side of the township.

“Who made that decision?” asked Malcolm in his letter. “In an emergency situation material should come from the nearest licensed pit, not Danford's pit, west of Kaladar. Since Royce [Rosenblath] has been road superintendent he has gotten material once from us that we can recall. There was also some hoe ramming done on the Buckshot Lake Road by Danford this winter. Was that put out to tender? For some reason, Royce seems to cater to Danford ... Maybe council should look at expenditures over the past years.”

“All can say about the washout on Buckshot Lake Road was that Royce phoned me at 6 or 7 in the morning, and I told him to go ahead and get who he could get,” said Reeve Hogg in response. “I know that's not what you people want to hear but that's what happened. Danford's has a lot of equipment.”

“They could have brought their equipment to our pit and got gravel,” said Karen Malcolm in response.

Reeve Hogg told Karen Malcolm she should make sure their services are on the township’s vendor list.

“We've done work in the past,” she said. “Wouldn't you take the closest person?” she asked.

“If I was aware of it,” said Deputy Reeve Bill Cox.

Karen Malcolm said she would send a price list to the township office for gravel and equipment rental.

Questions about grading – Bill Cox told Roads superintendent Royce Rosenblath that a number of residents have approached him about the quality of the grading done by the roads department. “People are complaining that there are no crowns on the roads and that the grader is not getting rid of the potholes,” Cox said.

“This time of year it is pretty hard with potholes. If they are deep you are not going to get them out in the first grade. I've heard the same story as you about the crowns, but everything is so soft that if you pulled all that into the middle you would have a mess at the edge of the road,” said Rosenblath.

Military moving in – Military training, involving 350 – 500 people and equipment, will be taking place on Irvin Road north of Bon Echo. The training will take place behind an airstrip located near Irvin Lake.

 

It all happened pretty quickly.

Deborah Andrews had been the executive director of Southern Frontenac Community Services for only six months, when just before Christmas, she was offered a job at the Community Health Centre of Ottawa South.

With a family that remains entrenched in Ottawa even though she took a job in Sydenham, it made sense for her to take it.

This left a gap at Southern Frontenac Community Services, especially in light of some of the projects that had been initiated during Andrew's short tenure at the agency.

David Townsend, who has held senior positions for six years at heath-related not-for-profit corporations in Kingston, the Diabetes Foundation and the Alzheimers Society, happened to be available and he was approached by the SFCS Board to take on the job on an interim basis.

Speaking over the phone from his office in Sydenham only a week after starting work at SFCS, Townsend said he is focussing on one initiative in particular, which is facing a deadline very soon. “An application is due soon for the seniors’ centre at the manse of the United Church in Harrowsmith to house our Adult Day Program, and disabled access is an issue that is going to take a fair bit of work,” he said.

Through his previous job, Townsend became familiar with the workings of the South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), the major funder for the seniors’ centre and most of the seniors’ programs that South Frontenac Community Services offers, which he said is an advantage as he jumps into work at the busy agency.

“There are also a number of other projects on the go,” he said. One of those projects, a transportation collaborative with Northern Frontenac Community Services, has already been submitted to Frontenac County for funding.

Townsend has signed on for a six-month contract at SFCS, giving the board of the agency two or three months to decide how it wants to deal with its senior staffing requirements before starting a hiring program. Even though it is early days, David Townsend said he is enjoying work in Sydenham, which is a short commute from his home in Kingston. “This is an absolutely great spot to be. The staff is so committed to what they are doing and there are no internal issues to worry about as I work on my own learning curve, and we have a very good board of directors.”

As for his own future with the agency, Townsend said it is too early to tell if he will seek to make his interim posting permanent in six months’ time, but he did not rule it out. 

 

Photo: Marcel Giroux, Patti Dixon-Medora and Candace Bertrim

Hats off to those who came out to support the Sharbot Lake branch of the Alzheimer’s Society and to Candace Bertrim who organized the first time event.

The evening which included a wine and cheese meet and greet, musical entertainment, and a live art auction as well as a showing of the film “I’m Still Here“, raised funds that will directly benefit clients, their families and caregivers in the local community.

Patti Dixon-Medora, board chair for the Alzheimer’s Society of KFL&A, personally thanked the passionate efforts of Candace Bertrim who single-handedly provides clients, their families and caregivers with all the services the KFL&A’s Alzheimer’s Society offers. Also thanked was new board member Marcel Giroux, whose presence on the board goes a long way in making the needs of local clients known.

The evening was not only a fundraiser for local programs, it was also an important educational opportunity for those unfamiliar with the disease and the challenges it presents.

A recently published national report titled “The Rising Tide” states that currently one in 11 Canadians is affected by dementia and that every 5 minutes someone in Canada develops some form of a dementia-related illness.

Candace explained, “It is with these statistics in mind that we set up the new Alzheimer Society’s office in Sharbot Lake at the Seniors’ Centre. In doing so we are aiming to bring services to people in the community so that they can get help sooner and offset a lot of the problems that arise as the disease progresses.”

The film “I’m Still Here“ according to Candace was “incredibly well received by guests“. A research-based play developed in partnership with Dr. Gail Mitchell and Dr. Christine Jonas-Simpson the film makes very apparent the many issues facing those affected by Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Presented by actors, the film is based on a play and is told from the perspective of those living with dementia, their families and caregivers.

Following the film, Gary Drew entertained guests with a live auction, which lightened the mood. By the end of the evening a total of $1500 was raised for local Alzheimer services. Congratulations to Sharon Shepherd, who took home the original painting donated by Daphne Gardiner, and to Rosemarie Bowick who took home the gorgeous quilt donated by Quilter's Choice.

Many thanks from Candace to all of the volunteers and donors who made this year’s first-ever Alzheimer Awareness month fundraiser a noteworthy success.

There are two other upcoming awareness month events. On Jan 27 at the Senior’s Centre in Sharbot Lake from 1-3pm there will be a talk called “Forgetful but not Forgotten” with guest speaker Christopher Wynn. On January 31 the “Walk for Memories” fundraiser will take place at the Cataraqui Town Centre in Kingston.

Donations can still be made at the local Alzheimer’s Society Sharbot Lake office at 613-279-9355.