NORTH BAY POLICE SEIZE FAKE FIREARM, TWO IN CUSTODY
Some frightening moments after reports of someone with a gun at a North Bay high school. At approximately 3:00 p.m. on February 16th, members of the North Bay Police Service received a report of a student with a firearm at West Ferris Secondary School. The school was placed in lockdown and members of the North Bay Police Service Patrol and Emergency Response Team responded. Two young people were taken into custody and a fake firearm was seized. No one was injured in the incident and there’s no word yet on charges..
OPP ISSUES REMINDER ABOUT SNOWMOBILE SAFETY
A Valentine’s Day crash in Bracebridge has prompted another reminder from the OPP about safe snowmobiling. An OPP officer found the single vehicle crash involving a snowmobile on February 14th at about 1:30PM on OFSC trail C102D at Butter and Egg Road in Muskoka Lakes Township. The snowmobile had collided with a tree. Police and Muskoka EMS attended and the 53-year-old operator from Nova Scotia was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police are reminding snow vehicle operators to be careful with respect to changing snow conditions and adjusting driving appropriately.
OPP WARNS THAT EMERGENCY SCAM CONTINUES
The OPP Essex County Detachment continues to receive reports of incidents of Emergency Scams, sometimes “Grandparent” or “Grandchild” scams. These scams usually involve a phone call to the victim claiming that a loved one is in trouble either with the police or courts and some form of payment is required to help them out. The OPP and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre have created a fraud prevention handout which they encourage to be shared throughout our communities to educate as many members of our communities as possible.
The Little Black Book of Scams, can be found online at https://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/03074.html
The OPP encourages the public to stay educated and informed to reduce the risk of being a victim of fraud. If you have been targeted by the “Emeregency Scam” call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
If you are the recipient of a fraudulent call, text or email, or if you’ve been a victim of a fraud, you are encouraged to report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre by calling 1-888-495-8501 or visit http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
CANADIAN MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION HKPR LAUNCHES NEW MOBILE WELLNESS CLINIC
The Peterborough-based branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association has launched its “Road Ahead” clinic – a new mobile wellness clinic to serve individuals throughout central Ontario. The program features two vehicles and will provide supports for individuals who have difficulty accessing services by bringing a full range of mental health and addiction supports to rural and remote areas across Peterborough County, Northumberland County, Haliburton County and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
The program provides counselling and therapy, support with addictions and substance use, mental health education, medication support and access to other services such as psychiatry. The program’s CEO Mark Graham says two vehicles were required to adequately serve rural communities across the region. One vehicle was funded through support from the Ontario government while the second was purchased via fundraising of more than $300,000.
Michael Tibollo, associate Minister of Health and Addictions, says, “We know that the ability to connect to care, close to home impacts patients’ success rates, particularly when it concerns mental health and addictions,” he stated. “That’s why these mobile wellness clinics are so vital. They help those on a path to wellness connect with the programs they need, where and when they need them.”
TEMPORARY STAFFING AGENCIES OVERCHARGING ONTARIO LONG-TERM CARE HOMES: ASSOCIATION
Ontario’s non-profit nursing homes are being overcharged by nursing agencies, according to a long-term care association.
AdvantAge Ontario said the homes are spending tens of millions of dollars on temporary nurses and that places the province’s target of four hours of care per day per resident by 2025 in jeopardy. Non-profit nursing homes across the province have had to turn to these agencies because competition for nurses and personal support workers is fierce across the entire health-care system due to a staffing shortage.
AdvantAge Ontario, which represents non-profit, municipal and hospital nursing homes, surveyed 100 of its long-term care homes across the province. The results showed that overall they are paying $6 million per month to nursing agencies.
The survey also found that 28 per cent of registered nurse positions, 16 per cent of registered practical nurse positions, and 12 per cent of personal support worker positions were unfilled per day.
The survey showed that the situation is particularly acute in northern and rural Ontario where agency rates are 30 per cent higher than what is charged homes in urban areas. One organization reported having to open a line of credit to pay for temporary staffing.
(SOURCE: CANADIAN PRESS)
NEW PROGRAM AIMS TO TACKLE PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER SHORTAGE
The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board is taking steps to fill the gap in the shortage of Personal Support Workers (PSW) across the region with a program that qualifies students for full-time employment upon graduation. The board says the program is ideal for Grade 11 or 12 students interested in Health and Wellness and recent graduates or students under 21 who have not yet received their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
As part of the program, students will receive PSW scrubs, proper footwear, PSW textbooks and workbooks, a cooperative education lab book, a financial stipend to support their placement, and a bursary of up to $4,500 upon completing the PSW program. Students will also earn PSW certifications, including CPR/emergency first aid, AED, GPA Alzheimer’s, elder abuse in-service, and acquired brain injury in-service/certification.
Courses are offered online at night and during the summer. For more information or to register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeToDsawysINB6wTocXGBaY-cndvy32lw1mW3fZmfLm_rNDQQ/viewform
ONTARIO MINISTER OF NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT MAKES $1.8M ANNOUNCEMENT IN SUDBURY
Ontario minister of northern development Greg Rickford stopped by the Northern Ontario Ag Conference in Sudbury on Wednesday to announce a $1.8 million investment to support agricultural growth in the north. The funding will go towards 10 agri-food projects that will help boost local food production, create jobs and grow the sector as a whole. Rickford said the province is paying close attention to the growth in the farming sector in the north as it continues to expand.
