FIRE BAN NOTICE: April 13, 2023

Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit - Media Release - April 6, 2023

Some areas throughout Leeds, Grenville and Lanark are experiencing power outages and localized flooding. This may affect your health.

We have a number of factsheets to help you with tips for recovery: Emergency Safety Fact Sheets - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Power outages can affect your food in fridges and freezers. If your power is restored, there are some tips to help you determine the safety of your food: What_Do_I_Save_What_Do_I_Throw_Away_When_Power_Is_Out.pdf (healthunit.org)

For those who have experienced flooding in their homes or on their properties, there are some tips you may need to help you stay safe during clean up: Flooding.pdf (healthunit.org)

For those with private wells or small drinking water systems, localized flooding may affect the safety of drinking water. Until your water can be tested, you may need to boil water or find an alternative safe source.  If you are using a treatment system check to make sure the system is working properly.  Get more info here: Drinking Water Precautions - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Thawing and rain has caused localized flooding on some properties.  If your septic system has been affected by flooding, limit water use (quick showers instead of baths, avoid using the dishwasher, garbage disposal and washing machine and flush your toilets only when necessary. For addition tips, visit: 3170_36 What to Do When Flood Waters Have Affected Your Septic System (healthunit.org)

If you are still without power and using a generator ensure that it is located in a well-ventilated area to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas. Some symptoms to watch for include tiredness, headaches, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, mental confusion, impaired vision and hearing, and loss of strength. For more information about Carbon Monoxide please see our fact sheet

Because the storms and flooding have affected areas differently, we encourage you to check on family, friends and neighbours. For more information about recovery after the storm, call us at 1-800-660-5853 or connect with us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @LGLHealthUnit. We are also now on Instagram @lglhealthunit.z. We encourage you to share our social media messages with friends and throughout your municipality.

MEDIA RELEASE:
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
April 4, 2023

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit is raising awareness of the emerging presence of Xylazine in the already toxic unregulated drug supply.  Xylazine, also called Tranq, is a sedative drug that is used in veterinary medicine and is currently not approved for human consumption.  This drug is appearing in an alarming percentage of the seized Fentanyl by law enforcement in Canada. According to a recent Government of Canada Drug Analysis Service report the majority of Xylazine identifications are coming from Ontario (62.7%), British Columbia (21.2%) and Alberta (12.9 %).  Xylazine is commonly found in substances containing 2 or more other substances such as caffeine and Fentanyl, and we have received reports that it has been found in Eastern Ontario.

Xylazine can cause deep sedation, slow down breathing and heart rate, lower blood pressure, increase blood sugars, constrict pupils and cause extreme feelings of tiredness and fatigue.  When used in conjunction with other substances such as opioids (i.e., fentanyl) or benzodiazepines (i.e., lorazepam) that cause sedation and central nervous system depression the risk of experiencing a fatal drug poisoning significantly increases.

The Health Unit is advising the general public and those who use substances that Xylazine DOES NOT respond to naloxone, the medication used to reverse opioid drug poisoning.  The Health Unit continues to encourage naloxone training and administration but is highlighting the importance of calling 911 for medical assistance in all suspected drug poisoning. Naloxone remains highly effective in reversing the opioid overdose even when other substances are involved. 

All drug poisoning are considered a medical emergency and seeking out emergency medical care is a vital step in the prevention of further fatalities.

The risk of an overdose can be reduced by following safer use practices;

• Call 911 in the event of an overdose
• Carry a naloxone kit
• Avoid mixing substances
• Use a small test dose first
• Do not use alone
• If you have no other choice than to use alone, call the Overdose Prevention Hotline 1-888-688-6677 (National Overdose Response Service)

For more information, visit: the Health Unit’s website or call 1-800-660-5853 or connect with @LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and Twitter or @lglhealthunit.z on Instagram.

For media interviews, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Lanark County Media Release
For immediate release March 28, 2023

A special ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Thursday at Lanark Lodge to mark the opening of the Maples Butterfly Home Round Room.

The room is part of an innovative initiative based on the Butterfly Household Model of Care developed by Dr. David Sheard of Dementia Care Matters, a leading UK-based dementia care culture change organization.

“The model aims to provide a supportive environment to those living with dementia – one that fosters life well-being,” explained Carey Duncan, director of long-term care. “This includes creating an environment where residents and their loved ones can engage with each other and with staff in a way that is safe and comfortable.”

The room is set to host residents, families and team members in a café- and spa-like setting with the goal of providing a space for many moments of joy and connection.

“The Maples Round Room Butterfly Home renovation was completed with these goals in mind and was inspired from feedback received from residents, families and Lanark Lodge team members,” said Warden Peter McLaren (Lanark Highlands Reeve).

The ribbon cutting was attended by many residents, families, team members, councillors and county staff, including Councillor Steve Fournier (Drummond/North Elmsley Reeve), Councillor Brian Dowdall (Beckwith Deputy Reeve), CAO Kurt Greaves, Clerk Jasmin Ralph, Recreation Manager and Renovation Lead Stacey McCord and Director of Long-Term Care Carey Duncan.

Photos: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/s0cm3zvnrim3s3uss36hg/h?dl=0&rlkey=04pcqxbsa2k4z4796eo36qa7z 

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held March 22, 2023.

Homelessness Prevention Program Investment Plan Approved: Council approved the 2023-24 Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) investment plan, which allocates $1.5 million in provincial funding to various local supports. Funds are allocated in four operating service categories.

Social Services Director Emily Hollington explained the county is the service manager to provide affordable housing and support services for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. “The HPP aims to prevent, address and reduce homelessness, including chronic homelessness,” she said. “It is designed to help a diverse range of vulnerable people to meet their short-term critical needs, including people living in community housing, supportive housing, people with low incomes, social assistance recipients or others who require social services support, as well as those experiencing homelessness.”

Hollington recommended continuing with similar programs in 2023/24, which is supported by the strategic directions of the county’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The allocations were approved as follows:

• Emergency shelter solutions: $100,000 (e.g., emergency hotel stays and contracting Victim Services for after-hours support services for those experiencing homelessness)
• Supportive housing: $650,000 (includes Adult Support Housing, formerly domiciliary hostels)
• Community outreach and support services: $187,647 (mental health and addictions supports, food security, case management and outreach (staff support, hygiene items, self-care kits) and By-Name List activities)
• Housing assistance: $492,958 (short-term/emergency assistance such as rent and utilities arrears or deposits, moving costs, emergency repairs, as well as long-term assistance such as rent supplements for chronically homeless)

For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101.

Community Housing Renewal Strategy Investment Plan Approved: Council approved the 2023-24 Community Housing Renewal Strategy investment plan, which allocates $482,900 under the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) and $362,800 under the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI). The housing allowance, renovate and homeownership policies were also approved.

At the community services committee meeting earlier this month, Housing Services Manager Shawna Stone explained COCHI and OPHI are part of a multi-year plan up to 2028 to help stabilize and enhance the existing community housing sector and assist with affordability and expansion of affordable housing option. The funds can be used to support repair and renewal of existing social housing, protect affordability and expand the supply over time. COCHI is restricted to eligible housing providers on a per-unit basis.

Stone added the recommendations support strategic directions in the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan and follow past practice for distribution of funds for similar programs.

The recommendation in OPHI is to continue with the Homeownership and Renovate programs and to introduce a new housing allowance that will replace funds that were available for rent support in a program that ends this month. COCHI and OPHI are 100 per cent federally and provincially funded.

The COCHI allocation will be distributed on a per-unit basis to seven providers. OPHI will be split with $100,000 to rental assistance and $244,660 for Ontario Renovates. Both allotments include some funds for administration. For more information, contact Shawna Stone, Housing Services Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2401.

Housing and Homelessness Call to Action Adopted: Council adopted a resolution calling on the provincial government to urgently:
1. Acknowledge that homelessness in Ontario is a social, economic and health crisis;
2. Commit to ending homelessness in Ontario;
3. Work with AMO and a broad range of community, health, Indigenous and economic partners to develop, resource and implement an action plan to achieve this goal.

The call to action is part of a pre-budget presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs submitted by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. The submission focused on increasing the supply of housing and tackling the crisis in Ontario.

The resolution points to the toll the homelessness crisis is taking on families and communities, which “undermines a healthy and prosperous Ontario,” and states it is “the result of underinvestment and poor policy choices of successive provincial governments.” It notes a wide range of solutions is required, adding the impact is felt most at the local level, but more resources, capacity and tools are needed. “Leadership and urgent action is needed from the provincial government on an emergency basis to develop, resource and implement a comprehensive plan to prevent, reduce and ultimately end homelessness in Ontario.”

The motion will be sent to the Ministers of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Children, Community and Social Services; Health; and to AMO. For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Read this article on our website.

MEDIA RELEASE:
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
March 24, 2023

The ticks are out! When temperatures rise above 4^oC, ticks become active. Enjoy the benefits of being outdoors by going for a hike, working in the garden or cleaning up leaf litter in the yard; but remember to be tick smart. Black legged ticks in our area may carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease and you cannot tell if a tick is positive by looking at it. Taking the following precautions will help to reduce your risk:

• Dress in light coloured clothing so you can see that a tick is on you (they are dark in colour).
• Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Icaridin. You can apply this to clothing or your skin.
• Put your outdoor clothes in a hot dryer for several minutes to kill ticks.
• Wear clothing that contains a tick repellent
• Do a tick check when you return inside. If possible, have someone check you from behind. Check your pets for ticks as well.
• Thoroughly check your body for ticks and nymph and promptly remove them using tweezers or a tick twister.  
• You can take a quick shower and scrub well to help remove any unattached ticks.
• Speak to your vet about ways to protect your pet.

Lyme disease transmission depends on the length of time the infected tick is attached. Ticks that are removed quickly and have been attached for less than 24 hours are not likely to transfer the bacteria. However, if the tick has been attached for longer than 24 hours you may be at an increased risk and it is recommended that you consult your health care provider.

Check any ticks you remove from your body to determine if they are fat or flat. A fat tick is an indication that it has been feeding for a longer period of time. Tick specimens are not used for diagnosis of disease so they are no longer accepted at the Health Unit.  Individuals can submit a photo to the website, eTick - for tick identification.

Lyme disease symptoms can range from a bull’s eye rash around the bite area, to headache, fever and muscle/joint pain. Symptoms can appear from 3 days to several weeks following a tick bite. Even if you have had Lyme disease before, you can be reinfected. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

If you have been following statistics on the health unit website, you may have noticed the Lyme disease section of the dashboard appears to have a drop in cases after 2021. Unlike the collection of other reportable disease reports, test results for Lyme disease have only been collected and entered into the provincial database for surveillance purposes (i.e., to determine if Lyme disease exists and/or it’s prevalent in a certain area).  There are no public health measures we can take after someone tests positive and Lyme disease cannot be transmitted from person to person. Furthermore, the Lyme disease cases reported to the health unit are only a fraction of the total number of infections in our region. Since we already know that Lyme Disease is highly prevalent throughout the LGL region, the health unit no longer posts the number of Lyme disease reports we receive. Note that Lyme disease continues to be common in our region. We continue to review all Lyme disease cases we receive. If there is a need to communicate changes in information around ticks and Lyme disease, we will provide information on our website and appropriate media channels.

Lyme disease can lead to serious, long-lasting health effects, and it remains important for residents to continue to take precautions.

For more information about ticks and Lyme disease: visit our Insect Bites and Diseases section of our website or call 1-800-660-5853. You can also e-mail us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or connect with @LGLHealthUnit on Facebook and Twitter or @lglhealthunit.z on Instagram.

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For media interviews, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

On Sat. April 1st Bethel United Church will once again host a Pancake Breakfast celebrating Ontario Maple Weekend .  

Bethel United Church, 1500 Rideau Ferry Road.

 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Sat. April 1, 2023, 

We will be offering Pancakes & Sausages with Oliver’s MAPLEWORKS maple syrup,

Cost of the Pancake Breakfast is $10.00  with children 6 years and under having their breakfast FREE

Please join us.

Any questions, please contact 613 264-9273

Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
MEDIA RELEASE: March 30, 2023

A Flood Watch has been issued for the Rideau Valley as a rainy weekend mixes with the residual snowpack still intact in some areas after a cool March. Potential flooding could begin to impact low-lying areas as early as Saturday and continue throughout next week.
 
Since early March, we have experienced a very gradual snow melt with some precipitation across the Rideau Valley Watershed. As such, snow remains in some parts of our watershed, most prominently in the City of Ottawa and the Tay River watershed, which indicates a potential for flooding in low-lying areas adjacent to any rivers, creeks or ditches.
 
The short-term weather forecast indicates rain amounts of 20-30 mm and mild temperatures on Saturday April 1, with cooler temperatures on Sunday. The longer-term forecast indicates milder temperatures throughout next week with potential rain.
 
Based on the above forecast, water levels and flows are expected to increase in all waterways in the Rideau Valley Watershed, beginning on Saturday and continuing throughout next week. The degree of increase will depend on precipitation amounts and temperatures, and may result in flooding within the following areas:

• Smaller creeks and streams in the lower Rideau Valley Watershed, including in the City of Ottawa. This includes low-lying roads and waterfront properties adjacent to Stevens Creek and any connected creeks or ditches (near North Gower), and agricultural lands along Cranberry Creek.
  
• The Rideau River near Becketts Landing and Kemptville Creek, particularly the areas around Hilly Lane, Rideau Glen Lane, Golf Course Lane, and Barts Lane. Access concerns may arise for Cedar Beach Lane.
  
  
• The Rideau River near Kars, particularly the areas around Lorne Bridge Road and Rideau Street South.

With the elevated conditions, potential exists for further impacts if significant additional rain were to occur before the water levels and flows begin to recede.
 
Water levels in upper watershed lakes are presently near normal for this time of year. Parks Canada staff who manage water levels for the Rideau Canal will closely monitor these water levels and have indicated that the levels are expected to rise as the snowpack continues to melt.
 
City of Ottawa crews have completed their annual ice removal program on the Rideau River between Rideau Falls and Bronson Avenue.
 
With changing water levels expected over the coming days, ice cover on lakes, ditches, local streams and rivers will continue to be unstable. Extreme caution should be exercised when near local waterbodies. Parents should inform their children of the risks and provide appropriate supervision.
 
As temperatures continue to rise, the potential for ice jams remains high in some local streams and rivers, as flows could quickly increase before the ice can melt. Residents are advised to monitor their local river closely for signs of ice jams as spring progresses. RVCA staff will be monitoring conditions but we always welcome unique observations from watershed residents.
 
Flooding along roadways is also a concern due to current snow/ice buildup on roadside ditches.
 
Residents in flood-prone or low-lying areas that are historically susceptible to flooding should take the necessary precautions to protect their property, such as:

• Ensuring sump pump is clear, in good working condition and has a backwater valve
• Ensuring easy access to a portable backup generator and pump
• Ensuring downspouts are clear and the outlet is at least 3 metres from the dwelling
• Securing items that might float away as flows increase
• Removing valuable items from basements or lower floors that could be subject to flooding
• Keeping emergency phone numbers handy
• Familiarizing yourself with your municipality’s Emergency Preparedness Plan

This watershed conditions statement is in effect until Tuesday, April 11, 2023 and may be updated at that time unless the forecast or conditions change.

More Information:
Brian Stratton, RVCA Manager Engineering Services
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
613-692-6804, 1-800-267-3504 ext. 1141
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Join Watersheds Canada for an interactive session as we share our free freshwater stewardship resources and how they can help you take action. We’ll also have time for you to tell us what you’re missing in your toolbox to take action, which will guide future resource building. 

Protecting your community’s freshwater and shoreland areas is very important but it can be hard to know where to start. You may have trouble understanding technical documents, or figuring out the “best” first step when you have limited resources. The good news is you don’t have to figure this out alone.

Join our staff for an interactive session as we share some of our free freshwater stewardship resources and how they can help you take action. We’ll also have time for you to tell us what you’re missing in your toolbox to take action, which will guide future resources we create. Come with your ideas and questions because we want to help you.

Wednesday March 22, 2023. 2:30pm 

Lanark County
Media Release: March 13, 2023

From March 15 to July 2023, traffic will be reduced to one lane on the Rideau Ferry Bridge during its ongoing rehabilitation.

Dalcon Constructors Limited have been contracted by Lanark County and the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville to rehabilitate the jointly owned Rideau Ferry Bridge. Construction work has been underway since September of 2021, with Dalcon completing the east side of the bridge last fall and finishing the west of the bridge this year.

To facilitate the bridge improvement work, traffic will be reduced to one 3.6-metre lane, using temporary traffic signals and temporary concrete barriers to protect the workers. Traffic delays should be expected.

Pedestrian access will be restored this summer to the east side of the bridge on the new sidewalks.

“We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience,” said Lanark County Public Works Manager Sean Derouin.

For further information, please contact:
Sean Derouin
Public Works Manager
Lanark County
1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3194