Dover ladies donate to Hospice, school board chairs, gift of reading

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Today – Mainly sunny. Increasing cloudiness near noon then 40 percent chance of flurries this afternoon. Wind southwest 30 km/h gusting to 50. High plus 2.

Tonight – Partly cloudy. 40 percent chance of flurries this evening. Wind west 20 km/h gusting to 40. Low minus 5.

‘Pretty in Pink’ Dover Ladies Group donate $15,000 to Hospice

The ‘Pretty in Pink’ Dover Ladies Group recently made a generous donation to the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation for their numerous community events held throughout 2017.

The group host multiple events throughout the year all to benefit Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation.

Some of the 2017 events included a Quarter Auction, Tractor Pull, golf tournament and their Annual Fall Dinner Dance at Immaculate Conception Church Hall in Pain Court.

“We are so grateful for the continued support from the wonderful women in Pretty in Pink”, stated Jodi Maroney, executive director of the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation.

“They have been generous supporters of the Hospice since the very beginning and have made a huge impact in our community by helping us provide compassionate end-of-life care to families from across Chatham-Kent.”

Shown in photo, from left: Pearl St. Pierre, Annette Blair, Katie Blair, Bernice St. Pierre, Erica Deboer Lucier, Sarah Smith, and Kelly Waddick. Absent from the photo are Nicole Blair, Anne Brown, Sue Demers, Jackie Griffore, Loraine Lozon, Yvonne Rivers, Kristen St. Pierre, and Brittany Watson.

Hudie, McKinlay to assume leadership of LKDSB

Trustees for the Lambton Kent District School Board elected Elizabeth Hudie as the Chair and Scott McKinlay as Vice-Chair of the Board during the Annual Organizational Meeting held on December 5, 2017.

Hudie has served as a school board trustee since 2005 and formally held the position of Vice-Chair. McKinlay was appointed to the LKDSB in 2000; he previously held the role of Chair and Vice-Chair of the LKDSB.

“I appreciate the support of my fellow Trustees and I look forward to assuming the role as Chair of the Lambton Kent District School Board,” Hudie said in a press release.

“In this new role, I remain committed to fair, open and transparent governance in the interest of students’ success.”

“I congratulate Chair Elizabeth Hudie and Vice-Chair Scott McKinlay on their appointments, as they assume the helm of the LKDSB,” said Jim Costello, Director of Education, in a press release.

“We appreciate their ongoing commitment to supporting students and I look forward to working with them to achieve our strategic directions.”

Van Heck, Parks acclaimed by St. Clair Catholic District School Board

At Tuesday’s initial meeting of the Board of Trustees, John Van Heck was acclaimed to the position of Chair of the St. Clair Catholic District School Board for a third straight term.

Trustee Michelle Parks was acclaimed Vice Chair, a position she has previously held for the past three years.

Van Heck has been a Catholic trustee since 2006. In accepting the position of Chair, he thanked his fellow trustees for their support and paid tribute to retiring Director of Education Dan Parr.

“Our multi-year strategic plan, which focuses on living our faith and student achievement; and our new Chatham schools will be your legacy,” Van Heck stated in a press release.

“But I know that you are not about legacy; rather, you are about building God’s Kingdom through our schools. Thank you for all that you have taught us.”

Parks is now in her twelfth year as a Catholic trustee. In her remarks to the Board tonight, she also expressed support for her colleagues.

Elections for the positions of Chair and Vice Chair are held annually at the Board’s December meeting.

The evening began with Mass, which was celebrated in the chapel of the Ursuline Boardroom, with Father Chris Gillespie, Pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish Cluster, as celebrant.

Give the gift of reading this holiday season

Celebrate the coming holiday season and the special people in your life by dedicating a book in their honour at Chatham-Kent Public Library with The Literary Angels Program.

A donation to The Literary Angels Program is the perfect gift for those who love books, libraries and reading.

It’s also great gift for the person who has everything, the teacher who went the extra mile, or as a memorial for a lost loved one.

For a recommended donation of $25 or more, library staff will select an appropriate title according to your preference or your honoree’s interests.

A bookplate identifying the recipient, donor and occasion will be placed inside the book.

Your special person will be the first to borrow the new item from the library. When it is returned, others will be able to share and enjoy this wonderful gift.

There are two ways to participate.

Either pick up a donation form at your local branch or print the online donation form.

Completed forms may be submitted to any CKPL branch.

Your donations are tax deductible and receipts will be issued at the end of the year.

You can also donate online at www.ckpl.ca/donate.

You will receive a charitable tax receipt issued by CanadaHelps.org.

Call 519-354-2940, visit your local branch or check out www.ckpl.ca/donate for more information.

Wallaceburg Skating Club ‘Christmas Pop Concert’ tomorrow

The Wallaceburg Skating Club is holding their annual Christmas Pop Concert on Thursday, December 7.

The show will start at approximately 5:45 p.m. and run until 7:30 p.m.

All Wallaceburg skaters are slated to participate in the show.

‘Late Night Christmas Shoppin’ in Dresden

The ‘Late Night Christmas Shoppin’ Under One Roof’ event is taking place in Dresden at the Old Czech Hall on Thursday December 7.

It will run from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

There will be 20 different vendors and there will be 50 swag bags for the first 50 people to come through.

Santa will also be there.

All proceeds will go to back to the Czech Hall.

Santa Claus parade and Christmas events in Dresden

The Dresden Santa Claus parade, with the theme “A Truly Canadian Christmas” is taking place on Saturday, December 9 at 6 p.m.

It will coincide with Dresden’s ‘Christmas Night Market’ running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

There will also be ‘Breakfast with Santa’ at the Dresden Legion on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., a Christmas Craft Show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Medavie supporting ACCELERATION program

Medavie Health Foundation is partnering with Toronto Rehab Foundation to support ACCELERATION (ACtivity, smoking Cessation, healthy Eating, and aLcohol intERvention & motivATION), an evidence-based, e-health solution that will provide at-risk Canadians with the tools to take control of their health prevention needs and reduce their risk of developing chronic disease, including type 2 diabetes.

“Chronic disease management presents significant challenges to the healthcare system and to those living with a chronic illness,” stated Bernard Lord, CEO, Medavie, in a press release.

“ACCELERATION 2.0 is an online approach to helping individuals achieve their health and wellness goals, with a goal of chronic disease prevention. This aligns with Medavie’s vision of providing easier access to quality care for better health outcomes. It’s also an example of a different kind of health care, one that begins in our homes and communities in helping Canadians live their best lives.”

Led by Dr. Paul Oh, a leading expert on the role of exercise in rehabilitation, the four-year $750,000 initiative builds on the initial $75,000 investment provided by Medavie Blue Cross in support of the 2013-2016 ACCELERATION chronic disease and lifestyle research study.

“We are grateful for the partnership with Medavie Health Foundation to bring ACCELERATION 2.0 to Canadians, specifically in Ontario, Québec, and Atlantic Canada,” Dr. Oh stated in a press release.

“Our experiences to date would suggest the importance of key alliances such as these, to further expand our network of leaders and knowledge-users, to develop and disseminate strategies to improve and adopt risk-reducing treatments based on new evidence, and to assist in the complex navigation of reaching at-risk/hard to reach populations. Thank you Medavie for your leadership gift that will further realize our vision of helping Canadians make the healthy choice, everyday.”

ACCELERATION 2.0 is founded on the pan-Canadian clinical research study that addressed health behaviours known to contribute to 70% of all chronic diseases: physical inactivity, smoking, inadequate consumption of fruits and vegetables, and alcohol in excess. Knowing that a growing number of Canadians are seeking fast and convenient ways to access the necessary health information and support required to prevent and/or manage health problems, it will use virtual exchange, including online coaching, to address access barriers and help bridge the gap in health disparities in supporting participants to achieve healthy behaviour changes.

ACCELERATION 2.0 was launched on Tuesday with partner representatives and stakeholders in attendance.

More details:

– With a program satisfaction rate of 90%, ACCELERATION graduates (2013-2016), on average, increased their life expectancy by 1.25 years, and 80% lowered their risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years.

– ACCELERATION graduates also increased physical activity (150 minutes of moderate to vigorous), nutrition levels (5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day), and smoking cessation.

– Chronic diseases and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and arthritis are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health problems.

– The dynamic combination of e-care and health coaching has proven effective in increasing access to tailored health plans on-demand, widespread dissemination, and immediate updating of education.

Making auto insurance more affordable

Ontario is taking action to make auto insurance more affordable for the province’s nearly 10 million drivers by introducing the Fair Auto Insurance Plan.

The plan includes significant reforms that will address fraud in the system, put victims first by providing better access to care for those injured in auto collisions and strengthen consumer protection.

Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, along with Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General made the announcement this week in Toronto.

“We’ve introduced a number of important changes over the years that resulted in lower insurance costs for Ontario drivers, but they don’t go far enough,” Sousa stated in a press release.

“That’s why we commissioned David Marshall to uncover the root of the problem and provide recommendations to improve consumer protection and system efficiency. Based on the findings of his report, we are taking action through the Fair Auto Insurance Plan to help victims, tackle fraud and further reduce premium costs.”

“We are working with the Law Society to increase access to justice, and protect accident victims from unscrupulous practices and unreasonable fees,” added Naqvi.

“This is critical to protecting consumers and another step to building a more accessible and fair justice system for Ontarians.”

The plan is based on recommendations made by David Marshall, Ontario’s advisor on auto insurance. In a report released in April 2017, he urged transformative changes aimed at improving the care received by people hurt in collisions, reducing disputes around diagnosis and treatment — and promoting innovation, competition and other steps to improve consumer protection.

With the Fair Auto Insurance Plan, the government is moving forward with significant structural reforms to address issues identified by Mr. Marshall, and an ongoing implementation strategy.

Highlights of the plan include:

– Implementing standard treatment plans for common collision injuries such as sprains, strains and whiplash to help people receive the treatment they need after an accident, changing the emphasis from cash payouts to ensuring appropriate care for victims

– Reducing diagnosis and treatment disputes between insurance companies and people injured in collisions by instituting independent examination centres to assess more serious auto collision injuries

– Cracking down on fraud by launching the province’s first Serious Fraud Office in spring 2018. The office will use an integrated and dedicated approach to combat serious fraud, with a focus on auto insurance fraud, which has been identified as one of the factors contributing to higher premiums

– Directing the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO) to review risk factors used by insurers to calculate premiums with the goal of ensuring drivers in certain parts of the province are not subject to unfairly high rates

– Ensuring that lawyers’ contingency fees are fair, reasonable and more transparent

The province will establish a panel to guide the enactment of reforms contained in the Fair Auto Insurance Plan.

“Ontario’s new Serious Fraud Office has a broad mandate to pursue many different types of cases, including auto insurance fraud that contributes to higher premiums,” stated Marie-France Lalonde, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, in a press release.

“We take enforcement seriously, and will pursue fraudsters with vigour. This new office will help our government create fairness and opportunity all across Ontario.”

Government officials say making auto insurance more affordable and improving the care people injured in accidents receive is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change.

The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.

More details:

– Recent Ontario auto insurance changes introduced by the government have included: a mandatory discount for drivers who use winter tires, helping people resolve disputes about benefits faster, and clarifying towing and storage costs after an accident.

– Minor injuries account for between 70 and 80 per cent of claims, while catastrophic injuries account for about one per cent.

– David Marshall is a former president and CEO of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. He is also an advisor to the government on pensions.