Newsroom

Local residents have asked us to post information about where to call to report an animal in distress. We want to remind you that dogs should not be left in cars, even for a few minutes, on a warm day.

This question is very common at this time of year particularly but is also important to remember during cold temperatures. There is a Provincial Law (Here is the link to the law: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90o36#BK34) in place, and it would be enforced by the Police (local toll-free 1-888-310-1122) or SPCA.

The nearest SPCA is in Barrie (705) 728-7311, but the Georgian Triangle Humane Society may be helpful in these situations (705) 445-5204. Although there is no related specific Town of the Blue Mountains By-law, our By-law officer has responded to calls about Animals in Distress as well. By-law can be reached at (519) 599-3131 ext 256.

Many people ask the question about whether or not they can break a vehicle window to rescue an animal if left in a car.  Here is the answer from the Ontario SPCA https://ontariospca.ca/blog/5-commonly-asked-questions/

Head injuries are a leading cause of serious injury and death to kids on bicycles. Even seemingly minor head injuries may cause permanent brain damage. A properly fitted and correctly worn bike helmet can cut the risk of serious head injury by up to 80 per cent (Parachute Canada)

(Collingwood and The Blue Mountains, ON) The Collingwood and The Blue Mountains detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) partnered recently with the Simcoe/Muskoka District Health Unit, Kamikaze Bikes and the Healthy Kids Community Challenge to support the helmet/bike safety campaigns within area elementary schools. 

Youths were instructed on Bicycle Safety Rules, Hand Signals, Helmet Safety and the importance of a properly fitting and safe bicycle. Kamikaze Bikes inspected the bicycles before the youths' were presented with an opportunity to try a skills testing course set-up outside the school. An important component of this school campaign is to also identify children in need of a new properly fitting helmet which were assessed during the school event. 

Head injuries are a leading cause of serious injury and death to kids on bicycles. Even seemingly minor head injuries may cause permanent brain damage. A properly fitted and correctly worn bike helmet can cut the risk of serious head injury by up to 80 per cent (Parachute Canada)

Contact: PC Martin Hachey

Phone: (705) 445-4321

The Grey Bruce Roots of Empathy program celebrated a dozen one-year-olds for their part in teaching some very important life lessons to nearly 400 students from across Grey Bruce over the past school year.

Participating with their parents in the Roots of Empathy program, these babies, dubbed ‘tiny teachers’, helped children from Kindergarten to Grade 8 in thirteen schools across Grey Bruce learn about expressing feelings, respect, inclusion, infant development and safety and the power of a loving bond between parent and child. A total of seventeen infants and their parents took part in the pilot program.

At the heart of the Roots of Empathy program is a neighbourhood infant and parent, who visit the classroom with a certified instructor nine times over the school year. Using a specialized curriculum, the instructor coaches the students to observe the baby’s development, celebrate milestones, interact with the baby and learn about an infant’s needs and unique temperament. The Roots of Empathy program reduces levels of aggression and bullying among school children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.

Catherine Talbot, International Liaison for Roots of Empathy acknowledged the efforts made by families, instructors and schools to make the program such a success.

The Baby Celebration also recognized the many people who contribute to the local success of Roots of Empathy including Bluewater District, Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, and Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Boards as well as community partners Keystone Child, Youth and Family Services and Kids & Us.

To learn more about Roots of Empathy, please visit www.rootsofempathy.org

For More Information:

Amanda McManaman

Roots of Empathy, Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1293

A.Mcmanaman@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca

A STOP workshop will be held in Owen Sound on Monday, June 25. For more information, to see if you are eligible to participate, and to register for the workshop call the Grey Bruce Health Unit at 1-800-263-3456 ext. 2231.

For many smokers, the cost of nicotine replacement products can be a barrier to quitting. The STOP (Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients) Program workshop offers eligible participants in Grey and Bruce Counties five weeks of cost-free nicotine replacement therapy and smoking cessation information to help them in their quit attempt.

Nicotine replacement therapy has been shown to effectively help people quit smoking by easing withdrawal symptoms. Workshop participants also receive educational material with quit smoking and relapse prevention strategies, along with information to address other unhealthy lifestyle factors that are known to accompany smoking.

A STOP workshop will be held in Owen Sound on Monday, June 25. For more information, to see if you are eligible to participate, and to register for the workshop call the Grey Bruce Health Unit at 1-800-263-3456 ext. 2231. The Grey Bruce Health Unit is partnering with the STOP Program to offer this local workshop. The STOP Program is led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as part of its Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy. CAMH is Canada’s leading addiction and mental health teaching hospital. Integrating clinical care, scientific research, education, policy development and health promotion, CAMH transforms the lives of people impacted by mental health and addiction issues.

For More Information:
Beth Karrow
Public Health Nurse
519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-345 ext. 2231
b.karrow@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca

Join us for the Bridge Opening, and then stay to watch the duck release into the Beaver River. Will your duck win?

Request for Letters of Support, Corporate Sponsorship and Members

Dear Community Member 

The Blue Mountains Curling Centre is a not-for-profit organization. Our mission is to bring back and encourage the growth of the great Canadian sport of curling within the Town of The Blue Mountains.

To do this we are seeking to use some of the available ice time within our municipal arena for regular curling and events, spectatorship and general participation. Our intention is to provide an inclusive community environment for all. This includes our local student and youth population, people with special needs, the general public and, from time to time, events that act as an economic driver within our community.

With our Easter event we launched our membership drive, and have already recruited over 80 members who have shown an interest in curling next year.  We are currently putting together our business plan.

We need to make a commitment to go ahead to the Town by June 1^st in order to secure the two days of ice we need.

We are asking you for your help to make this happen.

You can help us by:

1. Sending us a letter of support, which we can use in our presentation to the Town;
2. Becoming a corporate sponsor (We are only asking for expressions of interest at this time. We will only ask you to confirm your commitment, and level of involvement, once we have secured the ice time from the Town.)
3. Becoming a founding member (We are only asking for expressions of interest at this time. We will only ask you to confirm your commitment once we have secured the ice time from the Town.)

If you want to help us make this happen, please take the time to respond to this e-mail with a brief reply indicating how you are prepared to help, and indicating your name, and if applicable,  the name of your business and organisation.

Please respond by email to our secretary Julia Atkinson at julia@thornburylearningcentre.com.

In appreciation of your time and support,

- The Blue Mountains Curling Centre  

Do you need funds to help get seniors involved in activities in your community? The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) for community-based projects may have the funding you need!

New Horizons for Seniors Funding Extended to June 22, 2018!

The New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) supports projects that are designed by and for seniors. It is designed to help seniors improve the quality of life in their communities by participating in social activities and leading active lives. Eligible applicants may receive up to $25,000 in the form of a grant under the Community-based Projects Component and up to $5,000 in the form of a grant under the Small grants Initiative Pilot.

Projects must address one or more of the Programs Five Objectives:

• promoting volunteerism among seniors and other generations;
• engaging seniors in the community through the mentoring of others;
• expanding awareness of elder abuse, including financial abuse;
• supporting the social participation and inclusion of seniors; and;
• providing capital assistance for new and existing community projects and programs for seniors.

NEW – National Level Priorities

The Department also has introduced the following three national-level priorities inspired by the desire to solicit applications designed by seniors, for seniors:

1. Projects that would benefit vulnerable seniors populations;
2. Projects focusing on the diversity of Canada’s seniors; and,
3. Projects that would use volunteerism to increase an organization’s capacity.

NEW PILOT – Small grants Initiative

This year, NHSP is testing new ways to expand support to seniors organizations that have projects for their vulnerable population including those that have not received funding in the last five years (since 2012-2013 Call for proposals). These organizations can apply for the small grants up to $5,000 per project or for the Community-based funding of up to $25,000 (but not for both). In the context of Small grants Initiative, priority will be given to projects for seniors and meet at least one of the three national priorities.

Under the Small grants Initiative, three sub-streams are proposed:

1. IT equipment upgrade: to purchase computers or tablets;
2. Capital assets for current or new activities; and,
3. Projects that increase volunteerism, mentoring, and social inclusion.

Details about the Program, including the Standard Grant Application for Funding and the NHSP Applicant Guide are available on the Web site: NHSP. For more information, you can also call 1-800-277-9914 and select “0” (TTY: 1-800- 255-4786).

• New Horizons for Seniors Program Information (245 KB)