Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast from Friday, February 2, 2018 to Sunday, February 4, 2018

Today – A mix of sun and cloud. Wind northwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming southwest 20 this afternoon. High minus 7.

Tonight – A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness after midnight then 40 percent chance of flurries before morning. Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming light overnight. Low minus 12.

Saturday, February 3 – Mainly cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h gusting to 40 in the morning. High minus 1.

Saturday night – Periods of snow. Low minus 4.

Sunday, February 4 – Periods of snow. High minus 1.

Sunday night – Cloudy periods with 30 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 14.

Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is a popular tradition celebrated in the United States and Canada on February 2.

It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerging from its burrow on this day sees a shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if he does not, due to cloudiness, the spring season will arrive early.

Groundhog Day is growing more and more popular in Canada. There is a festival in Wiarton, Bruce County, Ontario, where the town groundhog, Wiarton Willie, delivers his “prediction” early in the morning on February 2 every year.

Stage is set, media has arrived just under 2 hours to go! #PredictionMorning #Wiarton #WiartonWillie #WiartonWillieFestival pic.twitter.com/iBkmNdolWU

— Wiarton Willie (@willieofficial) 2 February 2018

More details, here.

Beer and cider coming to Chatham’s Walmart

Starting in April 2018, Ontario will expand beer and cider sales to 87 more grocery stores, increasing convenience and choice for people across the province.

Included in this round of stores is Chatham’s Walmart location on St. Clair Street.

The winning grocers were selected via a competitive bidding process held by the LCBO.

For the full list of the new stores, click here.

They join over 200 grocery stores already authorized to sell beer and cider, bringing the total number of Ontario grocery stores that will be authorized to sell beer and cider to 370.

Up to 70 of these stores can also sell wine.

Bringing beer, cider and wine to grocery stores is part of the largest change to alcohol retailing in the province since prohibition.

“The rollout of beer and cider in grocery stores has increased convenience for consumers and expanded opportunities for grocers, breweries and cideries to grow their businesses and create more jobs,” stated Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance.

Ontario maintains a strong commitment to social responsibility.

By law, grocers selling beer, cider or wine must have designated sales areas and standard hours of sale, abide by limitations on package size and alcohol content, and meet staffing and social responsibility training requirements.

Provincial officials say of the 87 stores, 11 are independent grocery stores and 76 stores are owned by large grocers.

Ultimately, beer and cider will be available in up to 450 grocery stores, including up to 300 that will also sell wine.

For a map and list of the authorized grocery stores that sell beer, wine or cider, visit ontario.ca/morechoice.

$250,000 boost for Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation

The Sertoma Foundation of Canada presented the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation with a cheque for $250,000 in support of their Butterfly Building Campaign on Thursday, February 1.

The Children’s Treatment Centre provides services to 1 in 9 children and youth in Chatham-
Kent, and is expected to serve 1 in 5 by 2019.

The CTC-CK’s Butterfly Building Campaign will support building a larger, state-of-the-art facility that will better accommodate the growing caseload.

“The Sertoma Foundation of Canada helped fund the CTC’s current building’s Audiology wing, and we wanted to carry on the support of this program to the future building to meet the needs and services of our community,” stated Tammy Craeymeersch, President of the Sertoma Foundation of Canada.

Since receiving funding for the existing building in 1984, the Centre has grown from serving 237 clients to now serving over 3,091.

The Sertoma Foundation has provided significant, annual support to the CTC-CK’s Audiology and Speech Therapy programs for the past five years.

The Children’s Treatment Centre and Foundation are extremely excited about the Sertoma Foundation of Canada’s continued support of the Children’s Treatment Centre Foundation, and commitment to helping the children and youth in Chatham-Kent, of all abilities, reach their full potential.

Auditions being held in Wallaceburg for ‘The Foursome’

Auditions are being held this weekend for a play, which will raise funds for the Wallaceburg and District Museum.

The Glasstown Players are putting on a performance of ‘The Foursome by Norm Foster’ and it will be directed by retired Sarnia drama teacher, Dan White.

Auditions are being held on February 3 and 4 in the Jeanne Gordon Hall, above the Museum, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Organizers are looking to cast four males, from their mid-20’s to early 40’s.

No acting experience is necessary.

Audition scenes are available at the Wallaceburg Museum or by contacting White at dwwallaceburgtheatre@gmail.com.

The performance dates are May 10, 11 and 12.

Safe access to abortion clinics now in effect

Starting this week, all abortion clinics in Ontario will have safe access zones of 50 metres to protect the safety, security, health and privacy of women and health care providers.

Provincial officials say these changes are the result of legislation passed in 2017 to ensure women across the province can access abortion services without fear of intimidation, harassment or interference.

“No one should ever be intimidated or have to fear for their safety while accessing abortion services,” stated Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General.

“These changes will have a far-reaching impact on patients, providers and communities across the province, helping to ensure these spaces are safer and more secure for everyone.”

Prohibited activities within safe access zones around clinics, facilities and offices include:

– Advising a person to refrain from accessing abortion services

– Abortion-related protests

– Physically interfering with or intimidating people accessing or providing abortion services

– Recording patients or providers (e.g. taking photos or video).

– Other facilities that offer abortion services, such as hospitals, health centres, or pharmacies, as well as the offices of regulated health professionals who provide abortion services can now request safe access zones of up to 150 metres.

In addition, abortion service providers now have automatic safe access zones of 150 metres around their homes. This includes a general anti-harassment provision that protects clinic staff and abortion providers anywhere in Ontario.

“Women in our province should be able to access health care free from the threat or fear of violence or harassment,” stated Harinder Malhi, Minister of the Status of Women, Ontario.

“Safe access zones will protect a woman’s fundamental right to fair and equal access to safe abortion. It’s an important step forward for women in Ontario.”

In the lead up to this change coming into effect, the province worked proactively with law enforcement to ensure all police services have the information necessary to enforce this new law.

Local Crown attorneys will also be available to support police going forward.

People who engage in any of the prohibited activities within safe access zones could face fines of up to $5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months upon their first offence.

For second and subsequent offences, fines could range between $1,000 and $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 12 months.

International Development Week – February 4 to 10, 2018

From February 4 to 10, 2018, Global Affairs Canada, individuals and organizations across the country take part in International Development Week (IDW) and celebrate Canadian contributions to poverty reduction and international humanitarian assistance in the developing world.

IDW is also a chance to engage others in learning about—and contributing to—those efforts.

Established in 1991, International Development Week is a uniquely Canadian tradition.

The theme for IDW 2018, ‘Partners for a Better World’, encourages all Canadians to be partners in building a better, more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous world.

The efforts of Canadians, whether collectively or as individuals, play an important role in achieving sustainable development at home and around the globe.

To find out more about IDW, e-mail the IDW team or call 613-944-400 in the National Capital Region or toll-free at 1-800-267-8376.

For more details, click here.