Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall
Weather forecast for Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Today – Mainly cloudy with 70 percent chance of showers and risk of a thunderstorm. Fog patches dissipating this morning. High 26. Humidex 31. UV index 5 or moderate.
Tonight – Mainly cloudy with 30 percent chance of showers. Risk of a thunderstorm early this evening. Fog patches developing overnight. Low 17.
Travel advisory in place ahead of Hurricane Maria
Global Affairs Canada is advising against all travel to a number of Caribbean countries, due to the approaching Hurricane Maria and damage caused by Hurricane Irma.
“Leave by commercial means while they are still available and if it is safe to do so,” Global Affairs Canada officials stated.
For a full list, click here.
“The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad,” Global Affairs Canada officials stated.
“The Government of Canada takes the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provides credible and timely information in its Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad. In the event of a large-scale emergency, every effort will be made to provide assistance. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.”
Officials are also advising against non-essential travel to the Florida Keys and Naples due to damage caused by Hurricane Irma.
Global Affairs Canada officials say potential impacts of Hurricane Maria, as well as the severe destruction caused by Hurricane Irma, are making it difficult to assist Canadians stranded in the affected areas.
“Transportation routes, power and telecommunications systems, have been heavily damaged, and, in some areas, destroyed,” Global Affairs Canada officials stated.
“Emergency and medical care, and water and food delivery have also been severely affected.”
Canadians currently travelling to areas in Hurricane Maria’s path are urged to consult the Travel Advice and Advisories for their destination and to follow the advice of local authorities,” Global Affairs Canada officials say.
Canadians requiring assistance are asked to submit the following information to sos@international.gc.ca:
Personal information
– Full Name (as per passport):
– Nationalities:
– Date of Birth:
– Canadian Passport Number(s):
– Passport date of issue (Not necessary):
– Passport date of expiry (Not necessary):
– Status in Canada (Citizen, Permanent resident, none):
– Permanent address (including country):
– Mobile or other Phone # where you (they) can be reached:
– Other ways of contact name/numbers (WhatsApp, Skype, etc.)
– E-mail address
Information pertaining to travel
– Status in Country (Citizen, Tourist, Permanent resident, none):
– Airline (and tour operator):
– Are you (they) travelling alone? As part of an organized group? On business?
– If so, provide group / organization contact details.
– Accommodation details / address / contact information (Hotel, AirBnB, private):
– Address (last known)
– Travel dates (as originally planned)
Additional relevant information
– Do you (they) have local family/friends?
– If yes, please provide contact information
– Do you (they) have access to water, food and shelter (Other)?
– Do you (they) need medical assistance?
– What are your (their) plans? (i.e. travel to a shelter, stay at hotel/home, etc.)
– Please provide additional details on the assistance required
Hurricane Maria made landfall on Monday night as a ‘Category 5’ storm.
2016 Annual Housing & Homelessness Report
Municipal officials say progress is being made but more work needs to be done, when analyzing the 2016 Housing & Homelessness Report, which was presented to Chatham-Kent Municipal Council on Monday, September 18.
Now it its third year of publication, the report, which gives an overview of local housing and homelessness statistics, shows that there is a growing affordable housing need in Chatham-Kent, there is an increase in shelter insecurity, and that more people are accessing community meal programs, foodbanks and support services,” Municipal officials stated.
Achievements listed in the report include a reduction in emergency shelter calls to the Homeless Response Line, increases to the number of households rapidly rehoused and preparations to build new affordable rental and supportive housing
Also included in the report are summaries of completed affordable housing and homelessness activities, current market housing data, quotes and personal stories of people using the local housing programs and profiles of homelessness and affordable housing programs.
“2016 was an extensive planning year for both Homelessness Programming and Housing Services,” stated Valerie Colasanti, director of employment and social services, in a press release.
“We were able to create a more seamless system of homelessness supports customized to the local needs of our community and lay the foundation for new affordable housing units. We have accomplished so much in three years, but there is always more we can do. Everyone in Chatham-Kent should have a safe and affordable place they can call home.”
As the designated service manager, the Municipality is responsible for developing and implementing a 10-Year affordable housing and homelessness prevention strategy.
The strategy was approved by Chatham-Kent council in 2014.
Members from 24 community agencies make up the Chatham-Kent housing & homelessness steering committee.
The 2016 Housing and Homelessness Annual Report can be viewed or downloaded on-line at www.chatham-kent.ca/ess.
How-To Festival upcoming
Ontario Public Library Week is October 16 to 21 and to celebrate, the library is hosting a How-To Festival.
Visit your local library branch from October 16 to 21 to learn a new skill in 20 minutes or less.
Everyone is invited to learn something new like belly dancing, meditation, or decluttering techniques.
Events are planned throughout the week in all of the Chatham-Kent Public Library branches.
CKPL will wrap up their weeklong festival with Chatham Branch’s How-To Festival featuring 24 hands-on how to sessions on Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Haven’t been to the library for a while?
Can’t find your card?
Bring in your valid ID and sign up for a new card.
Come back and discover what your library card can do for you.
For more information about How-To Festival events, contact your local branch or visit www.ckpl.ca.
Photo of the day – Legion Week
September 17 to 23 is recognized as Legion Week in the more than 1,400 Royal Canadian Legion branches across Canada.
To mark the event legion flag raising ceremonies were held at municipal service centres in Wallaceburg and Chatham last week.
Zone A3 Commander Irene Williams said Legion Week provides the public with a special reason to visit the 10 branches in the area.
“We want people to learn what we stand for, the good work we do in the community and how they can support us or become members,” she said in a press release.
” Legion membership is no longer restricted to veterans of Canada’s armed forces.”
Mayor Randy Hope said he cherishes the work done by Legion members.
“The Legion has been a part of our community and communities across Canada. They work they do cannot be measured in terms of money, although they have donated millions. The Legion represents the best of what Canada is all about.”
There are more than a quarter of a million Legion members across Canada.
The first formal ceremony of the week will be a Drumhead Service hosted by Branch 335, Highgate on Sunday. A parade will form up at 1:30 p.m. at Legion and the march off will take place at 2:00 p.m. Luncheon will follow at Legion
Each branch will be holding a number of events. To contact individual branches for their activities, visit http://www.legion.ca/contact-us/find-a-branch
World news
Hurricane Maria makes landfall as a Category 5 storm
Toys ‘R’ Us file for bankruptcy
Aung San Suu Kyi breaks silence on Rohingya crisis
‘Man who saved the world’ dies aged 77
Dominica Prime Minister says Hurricane Maria has caused ‘widespread devastation’
Trudeau pays tribute to the late Arnold Chan
Adidas overtakes Jordan as No. 2 sneaker brand in America
Nerf guns can lead to serious eye injuries, doctors say
If you have a suggestion, story idea, column idea, or if you want to say hello… drop me an e-mail at aaron@sydenhamcurrent.ca.
