My War by Ina Hunt Turner

Poems

Area Remembrance Day Services

From Flanders Fields to Kandahar Province

Verona Couple's Bittersweet Memoryof Wartime EnglandBy Julie Druker

Bob and Ivy Martin at their home near Verona

It seems one does not have to look too far to meet men and women who experienced first-hand both bitter and sweet events that occurred in their lives during the Second World War.

Bob and Ivy Martin have resided on the outskirts of Verona since 1989. They met and married in England in 1946, and their memories of that time are tinged with both kinds of feelings.

Bob, who is now 89 years old, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCA) in 1942 and was posted to the small southern town of Torquay, England in 1944 where he worked as an aircraft mechanic with a three-bomber squadron fixing Lancaster bombers.

He recalled, “The war was pretty much over by that time and though the Germans were still making sortie runs over England once in a while, it wasn’t dangerous for me. And I loved working on those airplanes.”

Luckily for Bob the most dangerous situation he personally encountered involving a gun and one that that he “did not relish one bit” was the accidental discharge of a weapon by a friend, which dug a two-inch hole into the concrete close to his foot. Though Bob was not hurt in the incident he never forgave the fellow.

Tragedy, however, struck later for Bob, when he found out upon his return to Canada that his foster brother Robert Bradley, who flew bombers with the RCA, had perished in his last scheduled flight, during the famous raid on the German rocket base at Peenemunde, Germany.

Bob recalled, “ My mom told me what had happened and the strange thing was that she knew something had happened to him before she found out the terrible news.”

Ivy Martin, now 84, was born and lived in the town of Denton, a suburb of Manchester, England and for her the war was an everyday part of life. As a young teenager she experienced a number of horrific events that she to this day prefers not to mention, except to say that, “The bombing was daily and nightly and I had friends who perished. It was not a pleasant time and when I think of it, it brings back a lot of sad memories.”

As a teenager Ivy worked 12 hours a day at the Audenshaw factory near Denton assembling parts for Lancaster bombers. At night she was an Air Raid Warden, leading children to bomb shelters when the sirens would go off. To this day whenever she hears a siren, a flood of memories comes back.

Ivy studied ballroom dancing at the Manchester Academy of Dance and taught ballroom dancing in Canada when she moved here. She also performed as a singer at the Belleview Ballroom in Manchester, with a six-piece band backing her. She sang wartime favorites like Blue Moon, Just My Bill, and Boogie Woogie Boy. "The concert hall was a good place to go to forget the war." She recalled fondly the time when legendary jazz pianist George Shearing accompanied her while he was in town for a concert.

It was at the Belleview Ballroom that Ivy first met Bob in 1946 when he asked her for a dance. That night he accompanied her on a nine-mile walk back to her parents’ house, where her father announced, “That just might be the last you ever see of him.”

Not so. Bob and Ivy were married a few months later.

Bob and Ivy Martin on their wedding day in Denton, England in 1946 with their best man Walter Saunders on the left

After the war Bob was posted back to Canada, eventually landing a job at the Toronto Airport with the A. V. Roe Company (AVRO). He worked as a mechanic and assembled planes, including the famous AVRO Arrow (note the moniker on his cap in the photo).

When the company changed hands in 1962 and became Hawker Siddely, Bob stayed on until he retired in 1989.

After Bob returned to Toronto in 1946, Ivy remained in England for 6 months until she was granted her official papers. She was given 10 English pounds and 24 hours to pack and boarded a ship with 500+ other war brides bound for Toronto.

Ivy recalled, “It was the first time I had been away from my home and my family, (she had 11 siblings) and I was very anxious. When we got to Toronto I remember they lined us up and called out our names to our waiting partners and I remember that some of the women’s husbands didn’t show up. I was scared that Bob wouldn’t be there, but he was.”

Ivy laughed remembering that “some of the brides were sent back after they were caught in the lifeboats messing around with the crew. That was funny.”

Another funny memory was that some of the Irish and Scottish women who shared quarters on board could be heard fighting all night long.

The couple lived around Toronto for years, had two children and are now grandparents. Later they moved to Acton and Ivy taught ballroom dancing until she was 60 years old.

Ivy saw her share of tragedy during the war and both she and Bob understandably share some strong opinions regarding war. Ivy stated, ”War is a waste of good man power and a waste of lives. I don’t believe that war is way to settle things. And believe you me, it is not fun. Still, I think the kids should be taught the history and understand what people went through.” Bob agreed.

Bob and Ivy continue to live near Verona with some of their family members and their “too many” cats, and have been known to dance together on occasion. Of their relationship Ivy states unequivocally, “I love him more now than when I married him.”

 

Poems

Thanks to Royal Canadian Legion Br. 425 and to Prince Charles Public School for the submissions of childrens’ poems & drawings.

World War II by Josh Over one million Went to go fight Just so that we Could have our rights Almost 45,000 Died for us all And so many families Got that bad news call So about 941,000 Returned on their own When they got back No one left them alone Lest we forget The soldiers that died And now we all wear Poppies with prideDrawing by AndrewWorld War II by Josh Over one million Went to go fight Just so that we Could have our rights Almost 45,000 Died for us all And so many families Got that bad news call So about 941,000 Returned on their own When they got back No one left them alone Lest we forget The soldiers that died And now we all wear Poppies with prideA Soldiers Job by Haylee The thought of a soldier fighting in the war with guns and shooting, all the sounds you can't ignore. All the hatred, all the lies, no one should have to die. Fighting for our country, some soldiers make it back. Some to see their families, others to be wrapped. A soldier's life is different. A soldiers life is hard. God has been looking down on them from the very start. To help every one, now that would be a task, but to help just one, than that feeling will last. God will take good men to stand there at his gate. One to greet the others who feared for this day. The others to help God with all the decisions he needs to make. What a soldier does is really not a gameRemembrance Day by JohannaAs gun shots rise, So does pain and hurt. We may be sad when every faithful man goes, wondering if all will come home. A tear may shed every now and then, But as each gun shot falls/ The war is coming to an end. We remember those who are now/ lying six feet underground/ and How they gave their lives/ for us to be well. The Misery and sadness/ may never go away/ but the heart and soul/ of those who fought/ will always stay.Remember by Brycen2 Million dead bodiesThat all rest in peace10 000 Poppies,1000 old faces,Remember them all,Remember the brave,Remember all the soldiersThat died fighting to saveOur country.Drawing by DesireeIn Their Memory -by Tyler Guns Shooting Almost Losing Climbing Fences Stuck In Trenches Letters Sending Acting Happy Pretending Families Crying People barely surviving Soldiers Dying Bunks Breaking Hands Shaking Earth is quaking The Proud Soldiers Lay amongst the poppies bloomingThe Soldiers Feelings by  Katie  The Soldiers Feelings Gun shots will whistle through me ear, for tonight is the night I will fear. I’m going to war. I may never see my family again so iI'm praying to God for a helping hand.I’m here to save my country, so we can live free again. I wish for peace. Hopefully it will be over soon, so I can go home and rest for sleep by the silent moon.Smiles and tears of joy, I’m home again with my wife, my little girl and boy. We celebrate that I am home and they are no longer left alone.I’m here for you now I’m here to stay, God gave me a chance and today is the day. I take it with pride and I take it with fear to remember the thought of not another tear.Solders End by Jacob They lie there dead but in their minds they fight one last time between the dead to decide the victor so this will end and never fight agin and go to the promised land and let their souls rest in peace so this is their fait they chose this path now they rest for ever in the arms of the lord they fought with all of there soul now they stay and wait for you to visit themLest We Forget by HilaryBrave soldiers stand row on row Some in the sky going down to fight below Some soldiers wait for the pain to pass hy Family and friends wait for the pain to die They fight together friend and foe V^hile in sorrow the candles glow Those letters of sadness had come again Another soldier has died in pain If we had the power to bring the soldiers home from war There would he no more ribbons hanging on their door The coffins are lowered into the ground All that was left was a silent sound The tears of loved ones crying in pride Of the loved ones they now lying side hy side Some came hack and some are in a better place The tears of sadness run down their face Brave soldiers lie row on row in the heart of Flanders FieldRemembrance Day Services

Remembrance services were held throughout our readership in tribute of the soldiers who have served our country in the past and continue to do so in the present...

Above: Services in Arden on November 11, photo by Ina Hunt-Turner.Photo left: Flinton Cenotaph, November 8Photo below: Sharbot Lake Legion Br. 425 Colour Party, November 11

Remembering in Verona by Julie Druker

Veterans Bill Campsall, Joe Paterson, Don Brown, Major Ray Idzenga and Master Corporal C. Johnstone pay their respects at the Cenotaph in Verona on Remembrance Day

On November 11, veterans, students and staff at Prince Charles Public School and members of the community gathered at the Verona Cenotaph for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

Marc Wenkoff, who teaches at Prince Charles, organized the event that began with a welcome by himself and veterans and included reflections by grade 8 students and the recitation of “In Flanders Fields” by students Ashley Grant, Celina Grey and Tim Tyeal.

Local Veterans Bill Campsall, Don Brown and Joe Paterson laid wreaths along with a group of grade 3 students from PCPS.

Reverend David Spurrell recited the prayer “Abide With Me” and Mr. Wenkoff played The Last Post and Reverie on the trumpet.

It was a moving and meaningful ceremony shared by the Verona community on a beautiful sunny day.

 

Back to HomeFeature Article - October 16, 2009 Diners enjoy a festive Thanksgiving lunchBy Julie Druker

SFCSC Diners’ club enjoy a Thanksgiving lunch at the Harrowsmith Free Methodist church on Oct. 8

Members of the Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation’s Rural VISIONS Centre Diners’ Club feasted on a full course turkey luncheon with all the fixings at the Harrowsmith Free Methodist church on Oct. 8. Diners were invited to bring art and craft objects they created and a display was set up for the diners to peruse and chat about.

Most lunches are catered by PineRidge BBQ and are followed by some live entertainment.

Kim McCaugherty is the long-term services coordinator at SFCSC and she was excited to see so many diners at Thursday's meal. "The lunches are a great way for seniors to get out and socialize while enjoying a meal and we really try to go out of our way to make sure our clients get the service that they deserve.”

Diners receive a weekly phone call to remind them of the lunches that take place alternately in Harrowsmith, Verona and Inverary. Transportation services can be provided for those who require it.

The $11 lunches are available to seniors over 55 years of age and to adults of all ages who have a physical disability.

A group of diners at Thursday’s meal said, “It’s a time when when you can learn a lot of interesting facts and a time when all of the gossip goes around.”

Kim definitely feels that the more diners, the merrier. Anyone interested in joining the SFCSC Diners’ club can contact Kim McCaugherty at 613-376-6477 or visit the Rural VISIONS Centre website at www. rural visions.org.

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 10, 2009 Alzheimer Society Coffee BreakBy Candace Bertrim

On Saturday, August 29, the Alzheimer Society of Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, along with friends and families, celebrated a major donation that was made to help kick start the Coffee Break® campaign in the Frontenac area.Colonial St. Pierre and his family have donated $1000 to the campaign in memory of his wife Annette (Nettie), who had suffered from Alzheimer Disease and who recently passed away. Colonial and Annette’s son Miles and his wife Susan; Annette’s sister Daphne Gardiner; Colonial’s sister Brenda Watson and many other family members were on hand to offer their support.

Colonial St. Pierre spoke about the help he and his family had received after contacting the Alzheimer Society and said how grateful he was for that support. He encouraged others whose family members suffer from Alzheimers or a related dementia not to wait too long before asking for help. He felt it was important to get the word out and let people know that help is available and he wanted to make the donation to encourage others to support the local office and to ensure continued services to the North and Central Frontenac communities.Patty Medora-Dixon, President of the KFL&A Alzheimer Society Board of Directors, spoke about the services that the Alzheimer Society provides: awareness, education, counseling and support for families and caregivers. She said the society had recognized that there was a need for more local supports in rural areas and she thanked Candace Bertrim for all the work she has done in getting the Sharbot Lake office up and running. Patty also assured the group and the community that funds generated from the Coffee Break fundraisers in our area would remain in the community.

Roger Dowker, past president of the BOD Alzheimer Society, spoke of how he had hoped for services to be started in the rural areas when he was president. He said he was pleased to see that services were now offered locally to the community.Annette St. Pierre’s sister Daphne is a local artist from Franktown, and she has generously donated a painting to the society, which will be used in January to generate funds and awareness.

COFFEE BREAK® HOSTS SOUGHT:

Coffee Break® is the national fundraising campaign for the Alzheimer Society, and Coffee Break events have raised approximately $11 million since the campaign began in 1996, with more than $1.27 million raised in 2008 alone. Participants make a donation in exchange for a cup of coffee or purchase a coffee cup cut-out at participating retailers or local organizations. Many people also host a virtual coffee break online at www.alzheimercoffeebreak.ca.The society is seeking new hosts for Coffee Break in the Frontenac area. Hosts will receive a kit containing all the necessary promotional materials such as banners, posters and invitations to make their event a success.

The official Kick Off for the Coffee Break campaign will be held on Sept.18, at 10 am at the Northern Frontenac Telephone Company. For more information contact Candace Bertrim at 613-279-WELL (9355).

The Alzheimer office is located in the Seniors Centre, 1042 Elizabeth Street, Sharbot Lake. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 24, 2009 Advanced Care Paramedics in Frontenac CountyBy Jeff Green

Not all ambulances run by Frontenac Paramedic Services have the same capacity to deliver emergency medical services.

There are two levels of paramedics working for the service, which serves Kingston and Frontenac County: Primary Care Paramedics (PCPs) – the provincial standard, and Advanced Care Paramedics (ACPs) – an optional higher level service.

Primary Care Paramedics can administer five different drugs, while Advanced Care Paramedics can deliver many more. ACPs can start intravenous drips and use more invasive techniques to remove objects that block airways, among a host of other treatment tools.

Currently five of the six 24-hour Kingston ambulances are staffed with one ACP and one PCP at all times, (pending staff availability) but the 24-hour ambulance that works out of the Parham base in Central Frontenac and the 12-hour ambulance that works out of Lavant Station in North Frontenac are each staffed with 2 PCPs.

In an interview with the News last week, Paul Charbonneau, the Director of Emergency and Transportation Services/Chief of Paramedic Services for the County, described how this discrepancy came about.

“In 1994 the Province of Ontario commenced a ten-year study on the value of Advanced Care Paramedics, It was called OPALS. At 18 sites in Ontario, the province paid the extra cost of establishing ACPs. One of those was at Hotel Dieu hospital, which at that time served the City of Kingston. The province covered 100% of the extra salary, drug and ancillary costs for ACPs.”

When paramedic services were downloaded in 2000 and Frontenac County won the contract to deliver service in the City of Kingston and Frontenac County, the new service took over from Hotel Dieu and the Parham ambulance. At the time, Hotel Dieu had ACPs, Parham didn't. The OPALS study was designed for services that were able to respond to calls within 8 minutes, which precluded rural ambulance services that cover large distances, and the potential advantages of ACPs to rural areas was not part of the study.

When the studied period ended in 2004, it was deemed a mixed success. For example, there was little or no improvement in outcomes for cardiac arrest patients, but there was considerable improvement for patients suffering respiratory distress.

When the study period ended, Frontenac County Paramedic Services was faced with increased costs of $180,000 each year to keep Advanced Care Paramedics working in Kingston, and it has done so.

“We have simply carried on as before once OPALS ended, with ACPs in Kingston but not in Parham. To change that would be a political decision,” Charbonneau said.

In some other jurisdictions in Eastern Ontario, however, ACPs have become the norm, even for rural service. While only two Eastern Ontario jurisdictions, Ottawa and Kingston, were part of the OPALS study, some other jurisdictions have since opted to fund ACPs on their own.

Hastings County has instituted a 1 ACP - 1 PCP system in all their ambulances, even at their rural Bancroft base. The same holds true in the Cornwall area.

Susan Brown is the Manager for Training, Quality Assurance and Program Development for Frontenac County Emergency Services. She is also a qualified Advanced Care Paramedic. She sees some definite advantages to having ACPs in all Frontenac ambulances. Aside from the obvious advantages of bring able to administer intravenous drugs on the spot there are other advantages. One she cited is treatment for diabetics.

Faced with a diabetic whose sugar level has dropped to the point where they are disoriented or even unconscious, a PCP can deliver a rather expensive drug which takes 20 minutes to take effect, while an ACP can administer a drug that costs 50 cents and takes effect almost instantly. “Aside from delivering a better immediate outcome for the patient, the likelihood of a hospital visit being necessary in these cases is diminished, leading to savings for the health care system in addition to better service for the public,” Susan Brown said.

When ACPs are required on a rural call in Frontenac County, the PCP ambulance takes the patient, and the nearest ACP-staffed ambulance heads towards the PCP vehicle. When they meet, the ACP jumps into the other ambulance, which continues on towards the hospital.

In Paul Charbonneau's view, Advanced Care Paramedics fit in with a model of health care wherein the ambulance is seen not as a “simple ride to the hospital” but more as “the hospital coming to the patient”, whether that is at their house or at an accident scene.

When the decision was made earlier this year to build a new ambulance base in South Frontenac to house a 24-hour ambulance, the ambulance service put forward a proposal to include an ACP on each shift, and that was accepted by Frontenac County Council.

But there are still no plans for the Parham and Lavant Station paramedic service to be upgraded.

“We have been focussing on the physical plant of the rural ambulance this year,” Charbonneau said, “and the cost of bringing ACP to the North is not something we have brought to the attention of county council thus far.”

There are some issues that would have to be overcome should ACPs be incorporated into the rural Frontenac service. ACPs need to use their skills in order to maintain their certification, and with lower call volumes in the rural areas, ACPs might be required to work some shifts in other locations in order to keep their status.

There is also a question of the cost of training. A PCP can train for ACP certification on a part-time basis, but they will likely have to sacrifice some shifts in order to do the training, and they must cover the cost of the training as well.

“Frontenac County has never paid for ACP training,” said Paul Charbonneau, “whenever a position has come up we have simply advertised for an ACP to cover it, and upgraded our staffing through hiring.”

In other jurisdictions, however, the employer has subsidized the training, and even more aggressive recruitment has been tried.

“When Hastings County upgraded to ACP, they did it by offering a $10,000 signing bonus for any ACP who would come to work for them,” Paul Charbonneau said.

“There are different ways that ACPs could be brought to the north end of the County. It could be done slowly, through attrition, by hiring ACPs when paramedics leave the service, or though more aggressive means.

“But everything costs money, and those kinds of decisions are up to the politicians” 

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 17, 2009 Community Living-North Frontenac AGM: a new year & a new actBy Julie Druker

Don Nielsen, Patty Hallgren and Robin Jones

Community Living - North Frontenac met for their AGM on September 14 at Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake.

President Phyllis Badour summed up the successes and events of CL-NF for the past year, which included a February ice/snow sculpture contest for children; a celebration of the closing of institutions for people with developmental disabilities, the last of which closed in March 2008; the awarding of a student bursary to Tamara Carmichael; hosting the Canada Day games for children in July; and the successful completion of the children’s and teens’ camps that ran throughout the summer.

The meeting included an in-depth speech by guest speaker Robin Jones, program supervisor with the Ministry of Community and Social Services regarding the newly passed “Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008” which is set to become a law by March 31, 2010.

Through the new act the government is striving to allow adults who have a developmental disability and their families to gain more independence and choice by allowing them more ways to get the services and supports they need and the freedom to choose what types of services best meet their needs.

The new act will replace the Developmental Services Act, which is 35 years old.

Key changes will include new language and clearer definitions of the term “developmental disability”, with clearer eligibility guidelines.

The act also aims to: clarify the roles of individuals, families, agencies and government; streamline the application or access process by making one application entity; allow more personal choice regarding services and how families and individuals chose to receive their services and supports, along with whether they choose to manage them alone or choose to have them managed through an agency process.

The act will also incorporate a standard information system that will allow for common data collection and storage, making it accessible and uniform across the province. According to Jones, province-wide access to information will be a great help. She explained, “You will be able to compare apples to apples and to see, for example, how many people are choosing what types of services, what waiting lists look like and other relevant information.”

She continued, “The intent is that we will have a better understanding as to what services and supports are needed and the level and complexity of those needs.”

Asked how the new act might benefit agencies like CL-NF Jones answered, “I think the agencies that exist are still going to play a big role because they are helping families access supports and they will continue to do that but there will be more choice and clearer direction on where to go and how to apply and how to access various needs as they change.”

There is a lot of work that still needs to be done before the act becomes a law. The ministry has to develop policy directives and regulations and is looking for input from the public about what these new rules will involve.

Robin said, “In our region what has worked well is the regional office and the agencies working alongside individuals and families to help us plan, so that we know we are meeting all of the needs, and acknowledging and recognizing what are the strengths while also assessing what can be done differently.”

Asked how he felt the new act might impact CL-NF, the agency’s executive director Don Nielsen responded, “I don’t think there is going to be a huge impact on us but the real impact will be on families who will have an opportunity to go to the ministry and say ‘I want the funds directly; I want to manage them and get my own support for my son or daughter' which they can do now through various other avenues but it will definitely give more direct control to families.”

The AGM wrapped up with the appointment of new board members for 2009/10. Seeds and Co. was reappointed as auditor. Doug Yerxa was elected board treasurer after one year’s absence. Shari Tallon was appointed as new board member and Casey Fanning was elected Community Representative for persons served.

Janet Barr also presented the following awards:

--Employer Award to Cindy Warren of the Tip Top Dollar Shop in Sharbot Lake; Employee Award to Lucille Ball, who works at the Treasure Trunk; Employee of the Year Award to Alma (Toots) Whan; Honourary LifeTime Award to board member Patty Hallgren

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 16, 2009 Rainbow Health Ontario bridging health care gap for vulnerable communityBy Jeff Green

Receiving necessary health care in a rural setting is a challenge at the best of times, and for people from vulnerable communities that challenge can be even greater.

Rainbow Health Care Ontario is an organization, based in Toronto, that does research and advocacy work into health care for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Community throughout the Province of Ontario.

While a lot of this work has been done in major centres such as Toronto, where the LGBT community is well organized, Rainbow Health has a presence throughout the province through outreach workers that work on a part-time basis in each of the 14 Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) zones in the province.

In the Southeast LHIN, which includes Kingston, Belleville, and Frontenac, Lanark and Lennox and Addington counties, that person is Godfrey-based Calvin Neufeld.

“Many health care providers are uncomfortable when caring for LGBT people,” Neufeld says, “and are uninformed about the specific health care issues of this community. LGBT people have often had negative experiences and may be reluctant to come out to their health care providers. Some avoid the health care system, especially for preventative care, resulting in later diagnoses and more serious conditions. Even in the case of timely health care, it is common for patients and their care providers to lack accurate knowledge about LGBT-specific health risks.”

Health problems such as substance abuse, tobacco use, sexual health, mental health issues, violence and safety, and nutrition fitness and weight, are all more common among LGBT people than the general population.

For example, according to the Rainbow Health Ontario website (rainbowhealthontario.ca) “while 16% of the Ontario population smokes, a 2007 Toronto study showed that 36% of LGBT people were current smokers”, resulting in a higher incident of smoking-related illnesses.

“Rural areas face unique challenges,” said Calvin Neufeld. “People often have to travel long distances to seek even the most basic medical attention. Doctors in rural areas may be less knowledgeable about LGBT-specific health issues than doctors in urban centres. And LGBT-specific resources are in short supply. It is not uncommon to see LGBT people in the South East LHIN travelling to Ottawa and Toronto for their health care needs.”

Neufeld notes that Queen's University has a positive impact as a “queer friendly presence in the region, as does the HIV-AIDS Regional Services (HARS)”, which has a presence in rural Frontenac County.

“But”, he said, “the challenges are complex. Service providers may require further education and training.”

For many rural health care providers, LGBT needs are not even on the health care map, unlike other concerns such as poverty-related health issues and high rates of Diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD).

Through raising awareness of the need for services, and improving access to existing services, “Rainbow Health Ontario seeks to ensure that the unique health care needs of an already marginalized group of people will not be overlooked.”

People interested in Rainbow Health services are encouraged to contact lhin10 @rainbowhealth.ca 

Back to HomeFeature Article - July 9, 2009 Community Support agencies partner with the SMILE program

Staff from Land O'Lakes Community Services

The Seniors Managing Independent Living Easily (SMILE) Program is intended to assist frail seniors to remain in their own homes and out of hospital and long term care homes.

"Home is where seniors want to live and with the right supports in place many seniors are able to stay in their own home longer," says Judith Layzell, SMILE Program manager. "The SMILE Program serves only those seniors who, due to increasing frailty, are at risk of losing their independence and who require significant support with functional activities of daily living."

Once an individual is admitted to the program, services relating to the functional activities of daily living such as meal preparation, housekeeping, errands, transportation, and outdoor chores can be provided. A key benefit of the program is that it can help the client find services or the client can find the services they need on their own. There are some guidelines about who can provide services but ultimately, this program promotes wellness, independence and choice.

The program works in cooperation with local community agencies known as SMILE Partners.

In Lennox Addington & Frontenac the following agencies are SMILE partners: Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation, Northern Frontenac Community Services, and Land o' Lakes Community Services.

SMILE Partners will have special training to provide information about community resources and to determine a potential client's eligibility for the program. Then they can help seniors access the program if appropriate.

"We are receiving a lot of referrals from the public. Self referrals are the highest percentage of our referrals – which was unexpected! Many of these self referrals are not eligible for this program," says Layzell. “The SMILE Program is intended to support those frail seniors with multiple unmet needs who will end up in crisis if they can't access additional service. Seniors who only need assistance with one or two services, for example outside chores and housekeeping, will not be eligible for the program. We encourage these seniors to approach their local community support agency to determine what services are offered in their community.”

Home support agencies provide a variety of services to help support seniors and the disabled adult at home. Some of the services they provide are meal on wheels, diner's club, transportation to medical appointments, friendly visiting, and security checks. For a complete list of services provided, please contact your local home support agency.

The program is funded by the South East Local Integration Network (SELHIN) and managed by VON Canada Ontario. For more information contact your local SMILE partner or call the SMILE office at 1-888-866-6647

Back to HomeLegalese - July 2, 2009 Access to justice

By  Susan Irwin, Executive Director / Lawyer, Rural Legal Services

It is a phrase that means different things to different people. To a woman who has been repeatedly assaulted and abused by her spouse, it might mean getting legal help to bring a claim for compensation before the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; to a tenant about to be evicted, it might mean the opportunity both to contest the eviction and to obtain an order from the Landlord & Tenant Board forcing the landlord to make building repairs; while to a businessman, it might mean the ability to obtain a quick ruling on a disputed contract. Their perspectives may be different, but it is clear that even the best legal system is of limited usefulness if it cannot be accessed by those in need.

One of the most common barriers for people attempting to access our justice system is the cost of obtaining legal representation, a difficulty which is aptly summarized by a coffee mug inscription that reads: “Talk is cheap, until you talk to a lawyer!”

The financial inability of many people in our society to afford a lawyer is a concern which initially led to the creation of the Ontario Legal Aid Plan. Originally operated by the Law Society of Upper Canada, the plan has grown dramatically since its inception and is now administered by Legal Aid Ontario, a corporate entity independent of government but reliant on the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General for operational funding.

Community Legal Clinics, such as Rural Legal Services, are part of Ontario’s legal aid plan. As a not-for –profit organization funded by Legal Aid Ontario and governed by a Board of Directors made up of interested individuals from the community, our mission is to provide area residents with access to justice through advocacy, including legal advice and representation, public legal education and referrals to other community agencies, government and legal services.

Unlike most legal services, our help is free. Regardless of where you live or your level of income we can provide the following information and advice services without charge:

identifying whether or not you have a “legal” problem,

identifying the legal issues,

discussing whether you need a lawyer and how to go about finding one if we are unable to help you further,

identifying whether there are other services, such as government ministries or agencies, that also may be able to provide assistance and,

providing information on a variety of legal topics through this column, the distribution of pamphlets and brochures and presentations to interested groups on various legal issues.

In order to qualify for our more extensive legal services such as casework and representation before Ontario’s courts and administrative tribunals, you must reside in Northern Lennox & Addington County or Northern Frontenac County and have income within LAO’s financial eligibility guidelines. Consequently if you are on Ontario Works, ODSP, or are a senior receiving the guaranteed income supplement you are automatically eligible for our casework services.

We can also take applications for Legal Aid Certificates that will allow financially eligible people to hire a lawyer to represent them, most often in family or criminal law matters. Decisions on Legal Aid Certificates are made by the area Legal Aid Ontario office in Kingston.

Since Rural Legal Services was incorporated in 1992, demand for our legal services has continued to grow. We are told by all of our clients who respond to surveys about the quality and effectiveness of our services not only that our services have helped, but also that they would tell someone else to come to Rural Legal Services if he/she needed legal help or advice.

As a publicly funded service Rural Legal Services is accountable to you, the taxpayer, for the services that we provide, as well as to Legal Aid Ontario, our members and Directors. If you have questions or comments about our services, or if you need legal advice, please give us a call.

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.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 11, 2009 New Pine Meadow Head Looking to the FutureBy Jeff Green

Resident Barbara Ellsworth and Staff member Kim Cusick in the courtyard at Pine Meadow. Below: Administrator Bonnie George

Ever since Bonnie George took over the administration of Pine Meadow Nursing Home in February she has had an hour plus (each way) commute from the Sydenham area every day.

She doesn’t mind the commute, though, because as a single mother with a teenaged daughter and two boys in their early 20s she uses the time to make the transition from working in a 60-bed seniors’ home to her role with her family. “When I get to the door at my home, I’m ready for family life,” she says.

The combination of administrative skills, the need to create a team atmosphere, and the challenges of care-giving, have all been features of Bonnie George's work career and family life.

She started working as an administrative assistant at Queen's University when she was only 17, the same time she began caring for her mother, who was suffering from MS.

“Queen's was a good place to work,” she said, when interviewed this week from her office at Pine Meadow, “because not only are there a lot of options for change and growth in the workplace, the opportunities to take courses are there as well.”

Eventually, Bonnie formalised her care-giving role with course work, and after over 20 years at Queen's she took a job as office manager with a seniors’ home in Kingston that is owned by Extendicare, one of Canada's largest providers of long-term care, where she worked for five years.

“When I saw the job opening at Pine Meadow, a community-owned facility, I thought it was a tremendous opportunity, and it has turned out that way.”

One of Bonnie George's early goals upon arriving at Pine Meadow was to boost employee morale.

She has done that through a variety of means, but the main thing has been to take a direct interest in how everyone does their job at the home, and to recognise when staff do more than their job description calls for.

“When a housekeeper is cleaning a room, for instance,” she said, “and the resident is having difficulty brushing their hair and the housekeeper takes the time to help them, which they don't have to do, we recognise that. That's what a caring home is all about, and that is what we have here.”

George has also been impressed with the level of community involvement in the home, which is owned by Land o' Lakes Community Services (LOLCS) and overseen by a management committee of the LOLCS board.

There is also a connection to her former employer, Extendicare, which provides payroll and purchasing services to Pine Meadow to keep the cost of running a small home down. “I'm obviously comfortable with the Exendicare services since they are familiar to me,” said George.

She has also brought some other ideas she gleaned from her previous job to Pine Meadow, but she has noticed a difference working in a community-owned home. “I realized pretty quickly after arriving that the home is a real source of pride for the community. The community fought for the home and a lot of money was locally raised when the home was built. A lot of the extras that make Pine Meadow more comfortable for residents has been raised through the golf tournament and in other ways. That's all pretty special.”

As Bonnie George settles into her job and becomes known in the community (she hopes to settle locally once her daughter finishes high school), future prospects for the home will become a focus.

One initiative that could be in place in the near future is the provision of physiotherapy services for residents and the outside community as well. The space is available and Bonnie George does not see why the home cannot take on a healthcare role for the public, who now have to travel to Napanee, Kingston or Belleville for physiotherapy.

Further on down the road, the possibility of developing dialysis service is being considered. Pine Meadow has a nurse-specialist on staff, Susan Barchard, who is qualified, and there are a number of people in the area who travel to Kingston for dialysis on an ongoing basis, who could be served at Pine Meadow.

A major long-term thrust for Pine Meadow is a renovation. A subcommittee of the management committee has been developing renovation plans for years to upgrade Pine Meadow from what is known as a “B” class home according to Ontario standards to an “A” class home. The main sticking point is the fact that Pine Meadow has rooms with four residents, but “A” class facilities cannot have more than two residents per room.

“The committee has been working on this for a long time, and it is not something I have had to develop; the blueprints are ready,” said Bonnie George.

She is optimistic, based on what was said when representatives from the Southeast Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) visited in March that a funding announcement could be coming pretty soon for a renovation that would bring Pine Meadow up to the “A” standard. Provincial policy would seem to be on Pine Meadow's side in this, because all homes in the province are supposed to reach that standard.

The plans would not see the home get much larger in terms of the number of patients; it would only go from 60 to 64 beds, but it would be a significant improvement in terms of patient care.

In the meantime Bonnie George is continuing to become familiar with the home and the surrounding community. Although there is a new home in Tweed, the demographics in Addington Highlands and North and Central Frontenac, where 60% of its residents come from, ensure that Pine Meadow will continue to have a healthy waiting list for years to come.

And Bonnie George plans to be there to meet the new residents as they arrive.

On June 27, Pine Meadow Nursing Home will be having a fundraising Yard Sale & BBQ. Anyone wishing to donate articles towards the sale, please do so before June 24. All proceeds will be going toward the residents’ Harmony Gardens.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 25, 2009 ICSPs:  A Mouthful of DetailsBy Jeff Green

If the Ontario civil service were run by advertising people, Integrated Community Sustainability Plans (ICSPs) would undoubtedly be called something else, something like the Community Green Plans.

In any event, after well over a year’s work, and the input of a number of individuals and groups from across the county, Frontenac County now has a draft ICSP in hand. The next question is what to do with it now that it is in place.

Graham Halsall, an intern presenting the plan to a joint meeting of Frontenac County Council and councilors from its four constituent townships, said the project has attracted 350 volunteers “who brought a lot of energy and commitment to a sustainable future in Frontenac County.”

Developing an ICSP is required in order for the county to keep receiving financial support in the form of federal gas tax transfers in the amount of $1 million per year.

In Frontenac County’s case, the ICSP is designed to be the delivering mechanism for those monies.

So what, aside from language about a sustainable future, desired future states, is the Frontenac County Integrated Community Sustainability Plan all about?

A list of the 10 projects recommended for immediate implementation is a good place to start.

A Social Services Development Plan for the County, to look at health care, social services (including housing and daycare) and community services for people, facilities, or infrastructure. Cost: $100,000. Potential funding sources – Ministry of Community and Social Services, Federal Gas Tax funding.

An Inventory of Community Assets (Natural and Built), described as “a comprehensive asset mapping exercise to identify existing and potential industrial and commercial lands, economic assets, natural assets including soil, water, forestry, mining, and to look at species at risk, and areas of ecological interest. In addition, social assets such as health care, leisure and recreation, and cultural assets such as churches and heritage buildings will be inventoried. Cost - $50,000. Potential funding sources – Federal Gas Tax funds, Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC)

Integrated GIS mapping – Global Information System (GIS) mapping. An inventory of assets and their precise locations on a multi-layered digital map to help plan for social, recreational and health care services in the future. Cost = $140,000. Potential funding source – Federal Gas Tax funds.

Local Food Summit – A one-day event where people can meet, network, and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and barriers. Cost $5,000. Potential funding sources: National Farmer's Union, Frontenac CFDC, Federal Gas Tax Funds.

Support for the AFAR (Addington Frontenac Area Radio Station) – which is being developed by a volunteer board and is based in Northbrook, with the potential to reach Arden and Mountain Grove and perhaps Sharbot Lake. Cost $5,000. Source: Federal Gas Tax funds.

Salt Management Plan - while each township has been developing salt management practices over several years in order to comply with provincial regulations, it is proposed that a county-wide plan to consider salt storage and spreading, tonnage used, etc., on a county side basis. Cost - $50,000. Potential funding source – Federal Gas Tax Funds.

Naturally Rich Frontenac Booklet – a glossy booklet that “will unabashedly boast of the county’s social, cultural, economic and environmental riches. Cost $42,349. Funding confirmed - $22,000 from Federal Gas Tax and the Frontenac Stewardship Council. Potential finding source – Frontenac CFDC.

Assessment of Renewable Energy Potential – A pre-feasibility assessment to develop local energy systems in the county. Cost $30,000. Potential funding source – Federal Gas Tax Funds.

Develop a Common Energy Plan for all five municipalities. To work collectively between the County and the four lower-tier townships on the adoption of energy conservation plans, as called for under the Ontario Green Energy Act. Cost - $50,000 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project. Source – Federal Gas Tax Funds.

County-wide Solid Waste Management Plan. It is proposed that municipalities work together “to examine and employ new technologies, diversion infrastructure and incentives (e.g. fees charged and materials accepted for recycling) Cost - $75,000. Potential funding source – Federal Gas Tax funds.

The total cost of all these projects would be around $600,000, with most of the money coming from Federal Gas Tax dollars. Only the smaller projects, the radio station, the booklet, and the food summit, at a total cost of about $20,000, would be carried out by non-municipal bodies. The other 7 projects all would be either led or supported by Frontenac County staff.

Although these 10 projects are slated for immediate implementation, they form only a fraction of 120 projects that have been identified by the ICSP.

Detailed information is available at the website – Directionsforourfuture.ca