Happy New Year, freezing forecast, Canada 150 wraps up

Morning Coffee Slice – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Monday, January 1, 2018

Today – Mainly sunny. Wind becoming west 20 km/h gusting to 40 early this afternoon. High minus 13. Wind chill minus 26 this morning.

Tonight – Partly cloudy. Wind west 20 km/h gusting to 40 becoming light late this evening. Low minus 17.

CKHA and Municipality of Chatham-Kent services altered on New Year’s Day

Chatham-Kent Health Alliance

– Routine X-rays, electrocardiograms (EKG), and ultrasounds will not be available on January 1, 2018 and will reopen on January 2. These departments will be staffed to meet the needs of inpatients and emergencies.

– Out-Patient Rehabilitation Services at the Chatham and Sydenham Campus, the Diabetes Education Centre and the TIA and CAD clinics will be closed on January 1, 2018.

– Pulmonary Function Lab, Chatham Campus, will be closed on January 1, 2018 and will reopen January 2.

– Pulmonary Function Lab, Wallaceburg Campus, will be closed on January 1, 2018 and will reopen on January 2.

– The Chatham-Kent Mental Health and Addictions Program Out-Patient Department will be closed on January 1, 2018, and will reopen on January 2. For any immediate crisis, please call the crisis line at 1-866-299-7447.

– Out-Patient Lab Services will be closed on January 1, 2018 and will reopen on January 2.

– The Pre-Surgical Screening Department will be closed until January 3, 2018 and will reopen on January 4.

– The Patient Appointment Office and the Health Records Department will be closed January 1, 2018.

– Elston Pharmacy, located at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, will be closed January 1, 2018 and back to regular business hours on January 2.

– Chatham Campus Ambulatory Care Department will be closed December January 1, 2018 and will reopen on January 2.

– Wallaceburg Campus Ambulatory Care Department is open throughout the holidays Tuesdays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

– The Oncology Department will be closed on January 1, 2018.

– The Business Office and Cashier’s Office will be closed on January 1, 2018 and will reopen on January 2. Please note there are two bill changers in the building to accommodate change for coin.

– Hemodialysis Care will be closed on January 1, 2018 and open again on January 2, 2018 to accommodate patient needs.

– The Emergency Departments at the Chatham Campus and Wallaceburg Campus are open 24 hours daily.

Municipality of Chatham-Kent

– All municipal offices and most services will be closed on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.

– Emergency Services – Police, Fire and Ambulance are operational 24 hours a day, every day, and are accessible by dialling “911” for emergency calls only. T

– All public libraries will be closed January 1 and 2.

– Tilbury arena is open January 1 for limited bookings. All other arenas are closed.

– Both Blenheim Gable Rees Rotary Pool and Wallaceburg Sydenham Pool are closed on January 1. The Holiday schedule is available at https://www.chatham-kent.ca/parks-recreation/recreation/aquatics-swimming/PoolSchedules.

– The Cultural Centre (Thames Art Gallery, Chatham-Kent Museum, and Box Office) as well as ARTspace will be closed January 1.

– The Capitol Theatre is closed January 1.

– Cemeteries staff will be available on call for funeral homes who are in need of at-need lot sales or interment orders.

– CK Transit services will not be operating on New Year’s Day.

– Garbage and recycling collection services for the week of January 1, 2018 is one day later.

– The Wallaceburg Transfer Station and the Harwich Transfer Station will be closed January 1. All other transfer stations will be open regular hours.

– The Chatham, Wallaceburg, Harwich, Romney, Camden and Dover depots along with Public Works Yards in Bothwell, Ridgetown and Tilbury will accept Christmas trees from residents free of charge.

– Public Works Garages will be closed January 1. Response will be provided for winter control and emergencies.

– The Health and Family Services building will be closed on January 1, reopening on January 2. This includes the offices of Employment and Social Services, Housing Services, Children’s Services and Public Health.

– The Employment Resource Centres located at 240 King St. W., Chatham and 786 Dufferin Avenue, Wallaceburg will be closed January 1, reopening January 2. The Chatham-Kent Homeless Response Line is available at 519-354-6628. Essential after-hours Public Health services are available by calling 1-866-446-8207.

– Public Health Clinic Services, located at 177 King St. E., Chatham, will be closed on closed on January 1, reopening on January 2, 2018.

– Reception and administrative offices for Riverview Gardens will be closed, but services, activities and visiting hours continue as normal. Nursing staff can be reached 24/7 by calling 519-352-4823

– Public Utilities Commission at 325 Grand Avenue East will be closed January 1. The emergency call number is 519-352-6300.

– Provincial Offences Court will be closed January 1, 2018, opening for regular hours on Tuesday, Jan. 2 at 8:30 a.m. During that time, fine payments may be made on-line at www.paytickets.ca.

United Way to announce campaign achievement at touchdown breakfast event

The 2017 fundraising campaign comes to a close on Thursday, January 11, 2018 with a final announcement.

Campaign Chair Elizabeth Downey-Sunnen will speak about her experience, acknowledge the volunteers and thank all community partners who helped with the campaign.

She will then reveal the total campaign achievement towards the goal of $1,725,000 announced in September.

Attendees will also be hearing from the individuals and families, as well as those behind the scenes who helped bring their stories to the community, who were featured in the Unityed Way’s four campaign videos: Hope, Strength, Joy and Belonging.

There will be special announcements following each of the video presentations as well.

The Touchdown Breakfast is a free event and the United Way are asking members of the public to please RSVP to Tom Slager at tom@uwock.ca or by calling (519) 354-0430 as space is limited.

It is not too late to support the 2017 campaign and have your donation count toward this announcement.

Visit www.ChangingLivesCK.ca to donate.

PM Trudeau marks the New Year

The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, issued the following statement to mark the New Year:

“Happy New Year, Canada!

This past year, we marked the 150th anniversary of Confederation, and looked back on the remarkable achievements Canadians have made throughout our history. We recommitted ourselves to our shared values, and we celebrated the diversity that makes us strong. Millions of people – of every background, origin, culture, and faith – have come together to make Canada the diverse, open, and prosperous country it is today.

The 150th anniversary of Confederation was also a chance to reflect on the moments Canada has not lived up to its ideals. Indigenous Peoples, and many Canadians, have faced prejudice and oppression in our history. In the New Year and the years to come, we must continue to work to right these wrongs, and make sure everyone has a real and fair shot at success.

In 2017, we made real progress toward these goals. Our government took action to build a better future for families across Canada – from taking steps to strengthen the Canada Child Benefit and investing in early learning and child care, to creating new opportunities for young people, to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and protecting the rights of LGBTQ2 communities. We made gender equality a priority at home and abroad, and took strong steps to fight climate change and protect our environment, for generations to come. We launched Canada’s first ever National Housing Strategy and lowered the small business tax rate – and together, we continued to create jobs, grow our economy, and strengthen the middle class.

But we still have a lot of hard work left to do. In 2018, let’s continue to celebrate the values that unite us – openness, compassion, equality, and inclusion. Let’s move forward together, put those values into practice, and work to build a better future for all of us.

On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I wish you a wonderful night and all the best in 2018.”

Canada 150: A Year of Coming Together

As we moved into the final hours of Canada 150, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage reflected on this past year that saw Canadians come together and celebrate what it means to be Canadian.

“I want to thank each and every Canadian who participated in this wonderful anniversary,” Joly stated in a press release.

“A legacy can be a building, a memory, a relationship or a new way of thinking, but for me, the legacy of Canada 150 will be the connections we forged together. The investments made this year will increase our sense of belonging and citizenship. As we reflect on Canada 150’s legacy and the future, I want to highlight our continued obligation to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples: a commitment to make it right and get it right. There is no relationship more important.”

Canadians were invited to participate, celebrate and explore their country, their citizenship and their history.

They responded with enthusiasm and vision: whether it was pan-Canadian Signature projects or small grass-roots community events.

By the end of 2017, an anticipated 87 percent of Canadians got involved in ways that were meaningful to them, government officials say.

It’s here! Canada’s next 150 years start now. Thanks Canada for making #Canada150 so special! pic.twitter.com/cZjZA3tYgg

— Canada 150 (@canada150th) 1 January 2018

The Government of Canada supported community infrastructure projects, free access to Parks Canada sites, and celebrations and community initiatives from coast to coast to coast. Some 5,800 Canada 150 projects and events were supported, not to mention 1,000 events led by 120 of our diplomatic missions abroad.

Each Canadian made Canada 150 their own, and the progress made in key areas is ours to share: better opportunities for youth, a healthy natural environment, newcomers better equipped to contribute to our society, equality for all Canadians, and a way forward in our dialogue with Indigenous Peoples.

Canadians can be proud of the legacy of this anniversary—a time when we came together as citizens, creating a sense of belonging, knowing that we can forge a bright future together.

Government officials say an estimated 31 million people participated, with over 6 million youth across the country actively engaged in Canada 150 events and programs throughout the year.

Canada’s climate action is working, report to United Nations says

Canada is making strong progress toward meeting its 2030 climate target, according to a year-end report submitted to the United Nations.

Govenrment officials say meeting their climate commitments and investing in clean growth are central to the Government of Canada’s plan to create good jobs, support communities, and make our economy stronger.

One year after launching Canada’s first clean-growth and climate action plan in partnership with provinces and territories, the Government of Canada is adopting policies and making investments that reduce carbon pollution, help Canadians save money and energy, and support businesses and industry to compete in a low-carbon economy. Canada is also working with partners around the world to maintain global momentum on climate action and seize opportunities in the global transition to clean energy.

Last week, Canada submitted an extensive report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which details the strong progress Canada is making toward its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal. Canada is required to report on progress toward meeting its climate commitments every two years. Since the last report, Canada has taken significant steps to reduce carbon pollution and invest in clean solutions, both at home and abroad.

“We are 100 percent committed to meeting Canada’s 2030 climate change target, and I’m proud of the progress we’re making,” stated Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, in a press release.

“We’re taking action and promoting clean solutions to cut carbon pollution, spark new economic opportunities, and support good jobs in communities across Canada. There’s still a lot to do, and I look forward to working with provinces, territories, Indigenous Peoples, and all Canadians to keep the momentum for climate action going.”

These actions include:

– Adopting the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change with provinces and territories

– Announcing a nationwide approach for pricing carbon pollution

– Committing to accelerate the phase-out of traditional coal-fired electricity by 2030 and launching the international Powering Past Coal Alliance in partnership with the United Kingdom

– Committing a historic level of federal investment in areas such as green infrastructure, transit, and innovation as well as proposed funding to make buildings and industrial sectors more energy efficient

– Developing regulations to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45 percent, by 2025

– Adopting new vehicle emission standards

– Developing a clean fuel standard to reduce emissions from fuels used in transportation, buildings, and industry

– Committing more than $2.5 billion to help developing countries combat climate change

Government officials say the Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that Canada’s Indigenous Peoples are partners in Canada’s transition to a low-carbon economy, and it will continue working with national Indigenous organizations to advance broader clean-growth and climate change priorities.

Addressing climate change represents a significant economic opportunity. Countries that move forward with strong, practical climate action will be best placed to compete in the clean-growth century.

Canada’s investments in climate action include:

– $21.9 billion in green infrastructure, including clean energy, and the $35-billion infrastructure bank

– $73.5 million for the new Canadian Centre for Climate Services to support provincial, territorial, Indigenous, and other partners’ climate-adaptation decision making

– $18 million for a climate change and health adaptation program for First Nations and Inuit communities and $83.8 million to help integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge in the understanding of climate change, guide adaptation measures, and enhance Indigenous community resilience

– $2 billion from the Low Carbon Economy Fund to support provincial and territorial projects to reduce carbon pollution and spur clean growth, as well as initiatives proposed by a wide range of stakeholders

– $20.1 billion over 11 years to help Canadian communities build the new urban transit networks and service extensions that will transform the way Canadians live, move, and work