What's Up Huntsville Lake of Bays July 2011 - Whatsupmuskoka.com

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WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA EDITORIAL Small steps to improve health care Muskokans generally enjoy excellent health care but there are shortcomings. It doesn’t take long to find someone who has faced a long wait time in an emergency department or can’t find a family doctor. Overall the region fares much better than other areas of the province, but there is always room for improvement, especially as baby boomers enter their golden years, further taxing the system. It’s refreshing to see innovative initiatives underway in Muskoka to make the health care system stronger. From the new nurse practitioner-led clinic in Huntsville to nurse mentoring programs, there are signs things are looking up. One of the most innovative approaches, however, is the new specialized high skills major program planned in Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School for next fall. It will provide students with an opportunity to learn about and experience working in the health and wellness field. This program will include some classroom time plus give students an opportunity to gain experience in a hospital, doctor’s office and other related workplaces. Students will be getting firsthand knowledge about the vast variety of jobs available. Learning about the health and medical field will surely open doors for many students. This new course is a step towards solving two longtime Muskoka problems. First, it could support Muskoka’s health care system by providing qualified staff. Secondly, students who pursue a career in health care can return to work and live in Muskoka. For years we have been told that there aren't enough careers and well paying employment opportunities to encourage youth to come back to the area. While this program won’t have immediate tangible benefits for the region, in the long term it could be significant. It could both retain Muskoka’s youth, who tend to relocate to find jobs, and strengthen the health care system locally. One hopes this innovative program will soon be offered in all Muskoka secondary schools. Now the question remains whether or not Muskoka’s youth see the possibilities and enrol in the program. Send us your letters to the Editor Email to: editor@northcountrymedia.com Mail to: Box 180, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T6 Letters to the Editor Councillors shouldn’t have to pay for information from the district I just finished reading Sandy Lockhart’s article, District structure under scrutiny, in the latest issue of What’s Up Muskoka and was wondering which clerk in the district office is earning $30 per hour ($7.50/15 minutes x 4)? Perhaps Councillor Cragg, who was charged $7.50 for each 15 minutes of time required to scan information he requested, should be looking into this as well. Today’s modern multi-function printers can create PDF files in an instant just by dropping the sheets in the feeder and don’t require any other operator intervention. As a councillor, Mr. Cragg should have access to any district/municipal reports at no charge and without having to use the Freedom of Information Act to get it. What is so secret about these reports? Doug Philp Lake of Bays Article on alcoholism sheds light on difficult subject I just wanted to congratulate you on the comprehensive and well-written article, Overcoming Alcoholism by Karen Wehrstein, which appeared in the June edition of What’s Up Muskoka. The article is informative and balanced. You were able to present not only the broad scope of harms, impact and issues with respect to alcohol abuse, but were also able to reflect the programs, resources and services that we have for people in Muskoka – from prevention to treatment. I am inspired by the number of providers you were able to connect with as well as the non-judgmental and hopeful essence of the article. Thank you for taking the time to write this. I believe your readers will benefit from this information, whether the message they take is preventative or may lead others to the help that they may be looking for. Thanks again! Suzanne Witt-Foley Program consultant Policy, education and health promotion Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Donald Smit h Publisher – Print & Digital Melissa Kosowan Editor – Print & Digital Sandy Lockhart Assistant Editor Donna Ansley Curtis Armstrong Martha Gillan Laurie Johle Judy Vanclieaf Connie Zator Multimedia Sales Marc Bonitatibus Production Manager Addie Collins Matthew Walker Design Department Angy Gliddon Ken Northey Susan Smith Reader Sales and Service What’s Up Muskoka is published by Cottage Country Communications, a division of: Copyright© 2011, Sun Media Corp. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material published in What’s Up Muskoka is strictly prohibited without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Printed in Canada. Published every month. Subscription Rates: Within in Canada, outside of Muskoka One year $25.00 plus applicable taxes. Two years $45 plus applicable taxes. Canada Post Publication Sales Product Agreement Number 40025080 Address changes should be sent to the address below. How to contact us: Mail: P.O. Box 180, Bracebridge, ON P1L 1T6 Street Address: 12 – 440 Ecclestone Drive, Bracebridge Phone: (705) 646-1314 Fax: (705) 645-6424 E-mail: info@northcountrymedia.com Website: www.whatsupmuskoka.com Cover Photo Nurse practitioner Christine Fitchett supervises nursing student Cheryl Dove as she examines a patient. Photograph by Tim Lum. 10 July 2011 www.whatsupmuskoka.com
Service clubs unite to better help others By Chris Occhiuzzi The District of Muskoka and service clubs across the region are working together to provide help to as many people as possible. Known as the Financial Assistance Partners Group, these independent service organizations are aimed at making it easier for people to get needed assistance. “The first time we got together was about a year ago,” says Heather Moore, director of programs for Muskoka Community Services. “The premise of the first meeting was we all help people; can we do it better or differently? It didn’t take us long to realize that yes we could.” Currently, the Financial Assistance Partners Group consists of the District, Rotary and Lions clubs of Muskoka, Muskoka Victims Services and the Bracebridge Salvation Army. However, many other service clubs and organizations are in the process of getting on board. One of the major changes made by this unified group of helpers is limiting the amount of time and effort it takes a person in need to get financial assistance. “Brenda Boothby is our emergency assistance person here at community services, so she’s our front lines person,” says Moore. “She knew and we knew that A) the need seems to be growing and B) we were getting requests for things that we couldn’t help with ourselves. But, we knew whom they had to call. We were doing a lot of, ‘We can’t help you, but you should go and see A, B, C. So, we got together with A, B, and C.” Prior to the inception of the Financial Assistance Partners Group, a person seeking help may have had to go to many groups and tell their story to several different people before finding the right one. Each time they would be required to go through a screening process of sorts. “That’s not a very dignified way to maintain any sense of self worth,” says Moore. “So, we got together and decided very early on that there was an absolute opportunity for us to co-operate. We have a lead on the screening process for applicants, but people can go to any of the service clubs as well.” “With access to this fund, we’re able to help more people... They aren’t huge things, but when you don’t have a lot of money, $40 can be like $400” Now, by making a simple phone call to the District of Muskoka and speaking with Boothby, a person will only have to go through a screening process once. With a pooled fund and unified groups, the access to assistance is readily available, no matter how big or small the need may be. “We can either help them through our pooled fund, which everybody has contributed to. That’s for small things, up to $300,” says Moore. For larger costs, she explains, the group can come together to find the needed funds. She gives the example of an individual living with a severe physical disability who required a hospital bed. He had one, but it was worn out and needed replacing at a cost of about $2,000. “We couldn’t help with it, but Brenda sent out an e-mail and three different service clubs each contributed $500 and the Canadian Paraplegic Society donated the other $500. The community, the cooperation worked together and helped provide a new hospital bed,” Moore says. It is just one example of how the Financial Assistance Partners Group can work to help those in need. And while the District of Muskoka distributes around $150,000 per year in emergency assistance, these funds are attached to specific items. This is where the pooled fund really comes into play. “We might be able to help with utilities, we might be able to help with rent arrears,” says Moore. “But, for other items we can’t help. With access to this fund, we’re able to help more people. We’ve helped with several things, and some have been as low as under $40 and as high as $220. They’re not huge things, but when you don’t have a lot of money $40 can be like $400.” Of course, the groups will continue to work individually and those in need of help can still seek out a service club directly. The Financial Assistance Partners Group is just another way to make getting assistance easier. “It doesn’t replace anything anybody’s doing,” says Moore. “It’s in addition to the work everybody’s already doing.” Muskoka’s dependable insurance broker. Trust, Integrity, Choice. • HOME • AUTOMOBILE • BUSINESS • COTTAGE & BOAT • DISABILITY & LIFE INSURANCE Bracebridge 95 Manitoba St., Unit 8 705-645-8757 • 1-800-263-4619 Huntsville 27 Main Street East 1-800-668-2333 • 705-789-0101 Port Carling 705-765-7400 Free Online Quotes: www.hrcinsurance.com www.whatsupmuskoka.com July 2011 11
Page 1 and 2: WHAT’S UP July 2011 MUSKOKA’S N
Page 3 and 4: BIGGEST DON’T PAY ON NOW! Plus
Page 5 and 6: Alleviating the health care crunch
Page 7 and 8: Huntsville goes solo on employee be
Page 9: Bliss Boutique of Muskoka FIND YOUR
Page 13 and 14: We are fortunate to call Canada hom
Page 15 and 16: Celebrating milestones in Lake of B
Page 17 and 18: Portraits preserve Muskoka’s hist
Page 19 and 20: Huntsville receives grant for the a
Page 21 and 22: Add water for more summer fun For m
Page 23 and 24: This Summer Discover Downtown Hunts
Page 25 and 26: Peake Fields set to host provincial
Page 27 and 28: Stage show celebrates 30 years By C
Page 29 and 30: Oh Canada! A girl gets her face pai
Page 31: DEFINE YOUR SPACE WITH... SUPERIOR

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