JOIN US in raising the funds needed to bring tomorrow’s healthcare to West Parry Sound TODAY
I have an invitation for you. I am writing today to invite your association to join in our Annual Your Health Your Way (Formerly, PS Walk, Run, Pole). As a seasonal resident on Lake Rosseau for 59 years, our family came to the cottage for decades, never thinking twice about local hospital care. That all changed June 2015. My husband became gravely ill, and his survival meant rushing to the West Parry Sound Health Centre. While I had been a great supporter of the Foundation, my husband became a grateful patient through the medical attention he received in the ICU. Now, our family is keen to give back in any way we can. This year, for the third year, I am chairing this Annual Walk Event reimagined as Your Health, Your Way celebrating the Rehab program at the West Parry Sound Health Centre. I’m asking you to join me in this awesome community event by either signing up your association as a team and/or forwarding this notice to your members.
You can sign up at www.LoveOurHospital.com. Together we can raise the bar on fitness and celebrate healthy lifestyle choices while supporting local care where we all live, work and play. This year’s event is a hybrid model, for the month of May you can challenge yourself or your team to set your own goal to MOVE daily in your own way - all modes count for tracking: walking, running, biking, kayaking - Your choice, Your way! The goal is to move and track our kilometres daily while securing pledges along the way. Every day we move, we get healthier. Every pledge we gather, we can move closer to our goal of raising $150,000 to support the purchase of an upgraded Bone Mineral Density Unit. Join in the challenge throughout the month of May and strive to meet your fitness goals.
Then, mark your calendar to join us at one or all of four Community Walk Events across our region, starting at West Parry Sound Health Centre on May 1st, Rosseau Nursing Station on May 7th, Whitestone Nursing Station on May 17th, with the finale at Pointe au Baril Nursing Station on May 26th. The goal is to engage you, your family and friends to Move to forward as A Healthier Community. To learn more about how you can join us visit: LoveOurHospital.com
Sincerely, Brett
Brett Lagamba
2024 Chair, YOUR HEALTH, YOUR WAY – Move for a Healthy Community
Your Health Your Way
Parks Canada is asking for comments on introducing a new regulation restricting Floating Home mooring on the Trent-Severn Waterway (and the Rideau Canal), both under its jurisdiction. If you support the Georgian Bay Association's (GBA) strategy to get Floating Homes properly regulated in Ontario, please consider sending in a comment (*sample email text below). Although the Trent-Severn Waterway is not on Georgian Bay, we need to move forward with implementing the right regulations at all levels of federal, provincial, and municipal government. Therefore, this regulation from a federal government agency provides a helpful precedent for our ongoing efforts on Floating Home regulations. It also directly addresses the issues our friends and neighbours face in Gloucester Pool Cottagers Association and the Floating Homes in their local waters. Please find attached a general update from the Floating Homes Coalition on past and future action. Floating Homes Coalition Update Comments can be sent via email on or before April 7, 2024, to: trentsevern@pc.gc.ca __________________________________________________________ *Sample email text: Subject line: "Restricting Floating Homes mooring on the Trent-Severn Waterway" Dear Parks Canada I am writing to confirm my support for the proposed Mooring Restrictions set out in this notice: https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/info/avis-restrictions-amarrage-notice-mooring-restrictions [your email signature with Ontario address]
The waste site hours for the Easter Long Weekend are different from the regular hours. Please check the Easter Weekend Schedule before you head out. Good Friday, March 29 Both Waste Sites Closed Saturday, March 30 Carling Waste Site Only 8:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. Easter Sunday, March 31 Carling Waste Site Only 12:00 p.m. -4:00 p.m. Easter Monday, April 1 Carling Waste Site Only 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Please note that the Killbear Waste Site will be closed all weekend. Easter Weekend Schedule
The West Carling Association (WCA) appreciates receiving the attached letter from Carling Council regarding the pool project and the Council's continuing efforts to increase communication with Carling residents. However, some concerns remain. The attached document, titled Update on the Pool Project March 11, 2024, updates a report sent to WCA Members in early February and provides greater detail to support WCA’s concerns and questions. We continue to urge Council to hold an interactive, public forum to provide more in-depth information regarding the finances of the project and receive feedback from Carling residents. The WCA Board urges you to address any concerns to Mayor Murphy and Carling Council and copied to info@westcarling.com Update on the Pool Project March 11, 2024 Appendix A Letter from Carling Council
Stay safe around cold water: Understand hypothermia, survival and care
The Canadian Safe Boating Council hosts both in person and virtual workshops facilitated by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht (aka Professor Popsicle) of the University of Manitoba and world-renowned expert in hypothermia.
To find out more about taking part in our next workshop or to host your own for your organization, click here.
Maybe you’re just interested in finding out a little more about how our bodies react to cold water immersion. You may be a first responder wanting to learn more about how to maximize the survival of potentially hypothermic individuals you’re called upon to rescue, these workshops are for you. These give you a great grounding in the following:
Understanding the Myths Around Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia
How Our Bodies React to Heat and Cold Stimuli
4 Ways Our Bodies Lose Heat
What Happens to Our Bodies When Immersed in Cold Water
Immersion vs. Submersion in Cold Water
Cold Water Survival and Thermal Protective Clothing
How to Get Back in Your Boat Should You Fall Overboard and are Alone
Basic First Response… When You’re The Only One Who Can Help!
Victim Extraction, Packaging, Triage and Transport to EMS
The Decision to Stay or Swim When You’re on Your Own
Ice Assisted and Self-Rescue
Virtual Workshops
Our virtual workshops are held over two evenings, totalling 5 hours. The cost to register is $100.
Please note that the course instruction will be in English only. Workshops are 8-10:30 pm ET.
Those wishing to register can do so for events on the following 2024 dates:
Tuesday, Mar. 12 & Thursday, Mar. 14
For more information, contact Ian Gilson at igilson@rogers.com.
The IJC is Seeking Opinions on the Health of Our Waters in their Great Lakes Regional Poll The International Joint Commission (IJC) is seeking public opinion about the Great Lakes, water quality issues and other topics related to restoring and protecting this unique freshwater system. This is the IJC’s fourth survey, with prior polls conducted in 2015, 2018 and 2021. This year’s poll takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and repeats several previous questions to track trends. Results from this survey are expected this summer. The poll can be found here: https://ijc.org/en/wqb/great-lakes-poll and will only be available until March 15, 2024. Please take this opportunity to have your opinions heard and complete the survey using your cottage location so that Georgian Bay issues are well represented.
Council Agenda for the February 26 Public Budget Meeting The agenda package for the February 26 Special Council Meeting is now available. As part of this meeting, there will be a Public Budget Meeting. Anyone in attendance in person or online will be given the opportunity to comment on the budget. Each person will be given a maximum of three minutes to address Council. If you cannot attend in person and would like a meeting link please email clerksoffice@carling.ca View the Council Meeting Agenda Here
Carling Council is in the process of finalizing the budget for 2024. There is a public meeting scheduled for February 26 at 9 a.m. The West Carling Association (WCA) strongly urges you to: Read the attached report (below). Attend the budget information session scheduled for February 26 - virtually or in person. To gain access to the virtual meeting, please contact mtaylor@carling.ca Should you have any concerns regarding the budget, please feel free to express them during or in writing before the meeting. You may direct your written concerns to Mayor Murphy and our Councillors at: smurphy@carling.ca lcook@carling.ca adoubrough@carling.ca bkelly@carling.ca pwing@carling.ca The WCA has received an analysis of Carling's financial and operational data, which has been compared to the municipalities of Whitestone and McKellar. These two municipalities have similar populations and proportions of seasonal residents. The analysis was conducted by a member of the Pengally Bay Ratepayers Association, who has extensive financial management experience. The study has identified several areas of concern. Based on a data review conducted in 2017, it has been concluded that the residents of Carling are being overtaxed. The study reveals that we are paying 40 to 50 per cent (or more than $2.5 million) extra compared to the residents of Whitestone and McKellar for maintaining similar infrastructure and, in some cases, receiving fewer services. The following specific concerns were identified in the analysis: High staffing costs that continue to grow. Excessive reserves that continue to build up, resulting in interest payments on debt. The lack of involvement of Carling residents in decisions regarding the purpose and disposition of the reserves. Increasing taxes to build the reserves. Compared to Whitestone and McKellar, Carling is building higher reserves to fund the replacement of Township equipment and infrastructure ($3.8 million when only $168,000 is required by the Municipal Act). Building reserves for undefined purposes. Unexplained costs in the General Government Fund. The report concludes with several recommendations, including requesting that the Carling Council target tax reductions rather than continuing to increase our taxes. The WCA and the Pengally Bay Ratepayers Association have jointly drafted a letter expressing their concerns to the Carling Council. They have requested the council to take the following actions: Conduct a review of salaries and benefits in comparison to other jurisdictions. Conduct a full review of reserve funds in comparison to other jurisdictions. Form a financial subcommittee comprising one or more Carling residents with expertise in financial management (non-paid) to work with the council and staff. Additionally, they should assist in the budget analysis, monitor quarterly results and make recommendations to the council for remedial action if required. Adjust the 2024 budget to a zero per cent increase. If you have any questions, please address them to info@westcarling.com Carling 2024 Budget Analysis Final
At the Carling Council budget meeting on February 9, Mayor Murphy noted that she had been reading notes that residents sent to her and the Councillors regarding the pool project and that she is concerned. She added that the Pool Board needs to keep Carling residents updated and that she would like to see a change. She requested that Councillors Kelly and Doubrough draw up a list of questions that Carling residents have asked to seek answers from the Pool Board, document them, and send them to all residents. She also suggested there needs to be an ongoing mechanism so residents can forward their questions to the Pool Board to get accurate, up-to-date information as the project progresses. It is very positive to hear our Mayor acknowledge concern about the lack of information being shared by the Pool Board. If you have specific questions for the Pool Board, please send them to Councillors Kelly and Doubrough and copy them to our mayor and Councillors Cook and Wing, as well as info@westcarling.ca. Their email addresses are below: smurphy@carling.ca lcook@carling.ca adoubrough@carling.ca bkelly@carling.ca pwing@carling.ca