CKHA re-launches fundraising, Farm Safety Day, eclipse photo

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Today – Sunny. Becoming a mix of sun and cloud this morning. Wind becoming northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 this morning. High 23. Humidex 26. UV index 7 or high.

Tonight – Clearing this evening. Wind northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light this evening. Low 9.

Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance re-launches equipment campaign

After a brief hiatus from campaign fundraising, the Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance announced on Tuesday the re-launch of its final push for the $6.9 million Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Renewal Campaign.

Launched in 2014, more than $4.5 million has been raised to date in support of 18 pieces of equipment for the Chatham and Sydenham Campuses, including 13 new ultrasounds, a new Mammography machine, and a new CT Scan.

“The major star of this campaign is the CT Scan,” stated Candice Jeffrey, Director of Development, Foundation of CKHA, in a press release.

“Our current CT Scan is at its end of life. A new machine will mean faster, better and more accurate diagnoses for the community. A new CT Scan will save lives.”

These pieces of equipment serve almost every program offered at CKHA, and are key for diagnoses including heart, stroke, cancer, orthopaedics, rehabilitation, obstetrics and more.

Even though this equipment is considered essential for care at CKHA, as with all capital equipment needs at the hospital, the purchase of this equipment is not supported through government funding, Foundation of Chatham-Kent Health Alliance officials said.

“If you have had a CT Scan at CKHA in the past, you know first-hand the benefit of having this service close to home,” Darrin Lopes, a member of the board of directors for the Foundation of CKHA, said in a press release.

“Our current CT Scan is unreliable. Sometimes patients are having to travel for tests. That’s unacceptable. We need to bring a new CT Scan to Chatham-Kent.”

The $6.9 million Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Renewal Campaign kicked off with a $1 million gift from Mr. Wiet Peeters in 2014.

A new Bone Densitometer was installed in early 2016.

CFL wide receiver Andy Fantuz of Chatham was named as the honourary chair of the campaign, while Dave Depencier and Greg Hetherington were named as co-chairs. Local community representatives were also announced.

To make a donation, visit www.foundationckha.com, call 519-436-2538 or visit the office at 9 Ursuline Ave. in Chatham.

Farm Safety Day at the Chatham-Kent Children’s Safety Village

The third annual Farm Safety Day is being held at the Chatham-Kent Children’s Safety Village on Wednesday, August 23, from 10 a.m. 2 p.m.

“From 2003 to 2012, there were 843 agriculture-related fatalities in Canada, an average of 84 per year. Over the 10-year surveillance period, the average fatality rate per 100,000 farm population, per year was 11.5 fatalities. When compared with other Canadian industrial sectors, agriculture is a dangerous occupation. Agriculture ranks as the fourth most hazardous industry in Canada with respect to rates of fatal injury. The cost of injury… in 2004, agriculture related injuries in Canada cost $465 million dollars. Children between 1 and 4 years of age had the highest number of bystander runover fatalities (9 fatalities) and the highest age-specific rate of 2.7 fatalities per 100,000 farm population,” 2016 Canadian Agriculture Injury Reporting.

Farm Safety Day, includes: O.P.P. ‘Rollover Simulator’, McGrail Farm Equipment Power Take Off (PTO)
Unit demonstration, lawn mower safety, Mach ATV accident, grain and chemical safety, animal safety – 4-
H Petting Zoo, touch-a-truck with C-K Emergency Servicesand safety professionals, including race car
driver, Jake Hooker, battery car rides, CN Rail Safety, ATV Safety, Bus Safety.

There will also be a hot dog lunch, apple, water and hat are provided for each child ages 4-12 yrs who register for $5/child.

The Chatham-Kent Children’s Safety Village hosts a Farm Safety Program in January and February available
to all local Grade 6 students as part of their curriculum-based safety programming available at the
Chatham-Kent Children’s Safety Village each year in addition to the annual Farm Safety Day.

It truly takes a community to raise a child.

Saving children’s lives; one child at a time!

50 million trees by 2025

Ontario is investing in programs to improve ecosystem health in urban and rural communities across the province in order to help fight climate change. These programs are part of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan and are funded by proceeds from the province’s carbon market.

Kathryn McGarry, Minister of Natural Recourses and Forestry, was in Guelph this week to announce support for two programs that aim to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. They include:

– Support to reduce the costs of tree planting for landowners in urban areas, as part of the province’s initiative to plant 50 million trees by 2025.

– The development of a Land Use Carbon Inventory which will allow Ontario to assess the potential of agriculture, forestry and other land uses, such as wetlands and grasslands, to emit, remove and store carbon.

– Fighting climate change while protecting the environment is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

“Our government is committed to increasing our knowledge of how natural systems can store greenhouse gases, and investing in successful tree planting to create more forests near our cities, parks and communities across Ontario,” McGarry stated in a press release.

“Forests are critical to reducing carbon in the atmosphere, and these projects are a key part of our fight against climate change.”

More details:

– Ontario is investing $380,000 in the 50 Million Tree program and $750,000 in the Land Use Carbon Inventory from its carbon market in 2017/18.

– Ontario’s cap on pollution has, so far, generated more than $976 million in proceeds from two auctions. Cap and trade auctions are held four times a year. Proceeds must by law be invested in programs that help Ontario families and businesses save money and lower greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, industry, buildings, waste, electricity and agriculture.

– Ontario initiated the 50 Million Tree Program in 2008 as part of its ongoing commitment to fight climate change by planting 50 million trees by 2025 and establishing new forests across Ontario.

– The Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market form the backbone of Ontario’s strategy to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050. The government will report on the plan’s implementation annually and review the plan at least every five years.

Photo of the day

Karen Moran, the owner of Glasses and Grapes in Wallaceburg, captured this awesome photo of Monday’s eclipse.

This is what she had to say on social media:

“Watching through a welders helmet… amazing, crystal clear, wow!”

We agree, Karen!

Nice shot!

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