Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall
Weather forecast for Monday, October 2, 2017
Today – Mainly sunny. High 22. UV index 5 or moderate.
Tonight – Clear. Low 13.
‘Recyclopedia’ website helps reduce waste to landfill
Chatham-Kent residents are being urged to check out their ‘Recyclopedia’ to find alternatives for items that would normally go to landfill.
Chatham-Kent Reuses is a site that encourages use of the four R’s (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) to promote options for items which may have outlived their original purpose.
Rick Kucera, Manager of Waste and Recycling Services, says the website can give a second life to items in good condition through an on-line posting board.
“Once users register they can place items they no longer need on the site for someone else to acquire or they can use the site to look for used items they might want themselves.”
The site also provides information on how to find a new home for items through yard sales, charity donations etc.
“Whether it’s using an old wheelbarrow as a lawn ornament, donating a bicycle to someone who can refurbish it or giving someone a kitchen set you no longer need, it all results in less waste being generated which is great news for the community.”
Kucera said the success of the site depends on the number of people who use it.
“We want people to register, check the site often and spread the news to friends and neighbours. It really is a great way to reduce the amount of waste we are sending to the landfill each year.”
‘Reading buddies’ in Wallaceburg
CKPL’s Reading Buddies offers free one-on-one assistance to children in grade 1 to grade 6 who would like practice reading.
Reading Buddies allows children to improve their literacy skills through literacy-based games, activities, and high-interest readers.
Volunteers spend 30 minutes weekly with a child for six weeks fostering a love of reading in a supportive, relaxed environment.
Reading Buddies will be offered at Wallaceburg Branch on Thursday evenings from October 12 to November 16.
Appointment times are available at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
To register phone 519-627-5292.
Space is limited, so people are encouraged to register early.
For more information about programs and events at CKPL, visit www.ckpl.ca.
Photo of the day – Canadian Mental Health Association Lambton-Kent in Dublin
Chatham-Kent is recognized as a leading community, committed to the Transformation of Youth Mental Health Services, that is literally taking place all around the world.
Paula Reaume-Zimmer, Integrated VP of Mental Health and Addictions, Eugenia Canas a PhD student at the University of Western Ontario and Alex Luby, the Youth Navigator/Research Assistant showcased their CK ACCESS Open Minds poster presentation at the International Association of Youth Mental Health, in Dublin Ireland, which focuses on the importance of engaging youth in the partnership of mental health system transformation.
Alex describes the reaction that she has received from several other youth attending the conference.
“They share that sometimes their experience is felt to be token or an afterthought. In Chatham, we couldn’t imagine making any critical decision without their involvement, and their final approval. That is why we are here. That’s the key to the success in this model.”
Reaume-Zimmer added: “It’s a great lesson for any planning. The model is designed for youth, it has to make sense to them and their families, so that they’ll access services, ensuring they are recognized as the leaders of their own journey.”
Reaume-Zimmer said the other critical ingredient is community commitment.
“Our partners, whether it be healthcare, childrens’ services, justice, education, or service clubs such as Rotary and private donors, we all have the same goal in mind,” she said.
“We are united in an effort to transform youth mental health services, that historically has resulted in low engagement rates and increased use of emergency departments where youth are often arriving, to access mental health care for the first time. Clearly a time for change.”
One in five individuals will experience a mental health illness.
More than 75% of onset of mental illness occurs during the adolescent/young adult years.
These formative years are critical and, when identified and treated early, intervention could change the long term burden of a mental illness and provide adolescent and young adult with the tools to cope with many challenges that lie ahead of a young person who is often faced with the most critical decision of their lifetime.
CK is one of 14 ACCESS Open Minds sites across Canada, participating in the largest mental health research grants aimed at Transforming Youth Mental Health.
A $25 million dollar, joint grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research and the Graham Boeckh Foundation.
The Graham Boeckh Foundation attended the CK ACCESS Open Minds launch last May.
Since then more than 300 youth have accessed services at ACCESS Open Minds, located at 335 King St. known as the old YMCA.
Annual minimum wage increase to come into effect October 1
Ontario is increasing the general minimum wage for the fourth consecutive year, which will bring the wage up to $11.60 on October 1, 2017.
Government officials say as a part of Ontario’s plan for Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs, the general minimum wage would again increase to $14 on January 1, 2018, and to $15 on January 1, 2019, which would be followed by annual increases at the rate of inflation.
Ontario’s plan to create more opportunity and security for workers would also ensure part-time and temporary help agency workers are paid the same hourly wage as full-time workers, introduce paid sick days for every worker, enable at least three weeks’ vacation after five years with the same employer and step up enforcement of employment laws.
“Fairness and decency must continue to be the defining values of our workplaces,” stated Kevin Flynn, Minister of Labour, in a press release.
“No one working full time should be struggling to put food on the table or buy clothing for their children. Increasing the minimum wage will create more fairness, opportunity and security for workers, while building a more stable and sustainable economy that also includes fair workplaces for everyone.”
More details:
– By October 2017, the general minimum wage will have increased by almost 70 per cent since 2004, when it stood at $6.85.
– The minimum wage remained frozen between 1996 and 2003. This will be the 11th minimum wage increase since 2004.
– Special minimum wage rates for liquor servers, students under the age of 18, hunting and fishing guides, and homeworkers will also increase at the same time.
World news
At least 50 dead, 200 injured after mass shooting in Las Vegas
Suspect in Edmonton attack was known to police
Over 840 injured as police attempted to stop Catalan voters
Jagmeet Singh named leader of the federal NDP
Paris banned cars from the road for a day 🚗
Edmonton mayor urges calm after attack
Spain’s Prime Minister says there was no Catalan referendum
One day in the life of battered Puerto Rico
Trump says the secretary of state is ‘wasting his time’ with North Korea
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.
