Kennedy speaking in C-K, Catholic Board report, upcoming events

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast from Friday, December 1, 2017 to Sunday, December 3, 2017

Today – Mainly sunny. High 8.

Tonight – Partly cloudy. Low plus 2.

Saturday, December 2 – Mainly cloudy. Clearing in the afternoon. High 8.

Saturday night – Cloudy periods. Low minus 1.

Sunday, December 3 – Sunny. High 8.

Sunday night – Increasing cloudiness. Low plus 4.

Former NHL player and author of ‘Why I Didn’t Say Anything’ coming to Chatham

Family Service Kent is excited to bring Sheldon Kennedy, former NHL player and author of ‘Why I Didn’t Say Anything’ to the Kiwanis Theater in Chatham on Thursday, March 22, 2018.

Sheldon Kennedy skated for three teams in his eight-year NHL career, but he is likely best known for his courageous decision to charge his Major Junior Hockey League coach with sexual assault for the abuse he suffered while a teenager under his care.

Since then, Sheldon has become an unofficial spokesperson for millions of abuse survivors around the world, speaking about the importance of hope for survivors, an end to the stigma surrounding sexual abuse, and his desire to see meaningful penalties given to perpetrators.

As a non-profit organization that provides a wide range of counselling and community support services, Family Service Kent appreciates the importance of the message Mr. Kennedy has to share.

“The mission of our agency is to support, empower and advocate for individuals and communities to reach their full potential,” stated Brad Davis, executive director.

“With his compelling personal story of personal trauma and influencing positive change, we believe that Sheldon Kennedy embodies the spirit of what we strive to achieve.”

Tickets go on sale December 1, 2017 and can be purchased online through cktickets.com or at the Chatham-Kent Ticket Box Office.

General admission tickets are $45.

Upcoming events

– The C-K Singers Christmas Concert is being held on Friday, December 1 at 7 p.m. in the Von Ayres Cultural Centre, 505 King Street, Wallaceburg. Admission is by donation. Proceeds go to the Wallaceburg & District Museum. Call 519-627-8962 for details.

– The Bothwell Christmas Parade takes place on Friday night. There is no cost to enter. Prizes are given for the best 5 themed floats. The lineup starts at 6:30 p.m. with the parade starting at 7 p.m.

– The 26th annual Walpole Island Santa Claus Parade is taking place on Saturday, December 2. The line-up will begin at 11 a.m., with the parade starting at 12 p.m. The parade route will begin at Walpole Island’s school and will end at the arena. More details, here

– Stop by the Wallaceburg Library on Saturday, December 2 to play some giant board games. Battleship, Jenga, Snakes and Ladders will all be available to play. Bring a friend and drop in at the Wallaceburg Branch, all ages are welcome.

– The 3rd annual Merrytime Christmas will be held in Marine City, Michigan and Sombra on Saturday. The event is a international citywide celebration of an old fashioned river town Christmas. Events are being held at the Mariner Theater located at 430 Water Street in Marine City, also at the Wildly Delish family restaurant in Sombra. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

– People are being invited to come to the Wallaceburg Museum on Saturday, December 2 and watch all of the Star Wars movies in a row. People are being encouraged to come and dress up as your favourite character. Admission is free and donations are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the movies are expected to be finished at around 12 p.m.

– 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.

– The ‘Late Night Christmas Shoppin’ under one roof’ event is taking place in Dresden at the Old Czech Hall on Thursday Dec. 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 tom come through. Santa will alos be there. All proceeds will go to back to the Czech Hall.

– And finally, the Dresden Santa Claus parade, with the theme “A Truly Canadian Christmas” is taking place on Dec 9 at 6 p.m. It will coincide wth Dresden’s ‘Christmas Night Market’ running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Catholic School Board 2017 Director’s Annual Report

Trustees of the St. Clair Catholic District School Board have received the 2017 Director’s Annual Report. The report card-style report lists the Board’s strategic priorities, goals, desired results and targets for the 2016-2017 school year.

It also clearly identifies whether those targets were achieved or exceeded; or goals were not met.

“In many areas we have exceeded our expectations and in other areas we have achieved our goals; however, there are some targets where we still have work to do,” stated Dan Parr, director of education.

“We will continue to focus on those areas this school year.”

The 2017 report focuses on the three pillars of the strategic plan – living our faith; promoting educational achievement and innovation; and fostering stewardship, leadership and social justice and highlights system-wide and school-based events, which align with these pillars.

A section on Inclusive Schools has been added this year. Finally, a report on capital investment in school renewal, school condition improvement and greenhouse gas reduction projects undertaken throughout 2016-2017 is also included.

This will be Parr’s final report to the Board.

His retirement, which was announced in June, takes effect at the end of December.

“It has been a pleasure and an honour to serve the students and families of the St. Clair Catholic District School Board, along with an experienced and committed senior team and an amazing staff of talented and faith filled educators and school support professionals,” Parr stated.

“I wish each of them much continued success in the years ahead.”

The full report will now be forwarded to the Ministry of Education.

You can also read the report, here.

More aquatic species at risk

The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority has issued some details about some more aquatic species at risk in their watershed:

Ontario expanding dementia program

Ontario will connect every person diagnosed with dementia with a patient navigator by expanding the proven First Link program to every community across the province, making access to care more consistent and fair for families regardless of where they live.

Dipika Damerla, Minister of Seniors Affairs, made the announcement this week on behalf of Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, at the Alzheimer Society of Ontario in Toronto.

“As more people are diagnosed with dementia each year, it’s important that the right resources and supports are available to them,” Hoskins stated.

“We’re making important investments to ensure that patients and their families have the information and supports they need, and making sure they continue to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

Government officials say expanding the Alzheimer Society’s First Link program will provide 14,000 people diagnosed with dementia, and their care partners, with the services of a First Link Care Navigator who will help them access local supports and programs, such as health professionals, information about day-to-day living and care, counselling, and other community programs and services.

Under the expanded First Link program, 46 First Link Care Navigators will be hired.

The province is also supporting an additional 8,000 people living with dementia and providing respite to their families and other care partners by increasing access to community dementia programs.

These programs offer activities for people living with dementia, such as art, music, and exercise, which can provide meaningful social and recreational engagement and lead to enhanced well-being.

Respite services, which includes in-home and overnight support, reduce care partner burnout and help people with dementia live safely at home for as long as possible.

Supporting people living with dementia in communities across the province 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:

– Alzheimer Society of Ontario’s First Link program will receive $8.15 million over three years to enhance dementia care coordination across the province in local Alzheimer Societies across Ontario.

– Ontario will invest $37.5 million over three years to expand community dementia programs, including respite care services.

– Ontario is investing $100 million over three years through its dementia strategy to improve the lives of people living with the disease and their families.

– There are 194,000 people in Ontario living with dementia, with the number expected to grow as the province’s population ages. It is estimated that 6.5 per cent are 66 years old and younger. The dementia strategy is part of Ontario’s Patients First: Roadmap to Strengthen Home and Community Care to improve and expand home and community care over three years.