MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release – June 6, 2024

The Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/North Leeds Grenville) is now accepting applications for the Starter Company Plus program. Funded by the Government of Ontario, this program offers training and potential funding for both new and existing business owners who have started a new venture, are expanding a business less than five years old, or have purchased an existing business.

Participants will receive training in business development, marketing, financial management, and coaching. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to pitch their business plans to a grant committee for a chance to receive up to $5,000 in funding.

The Starter Company Plus program has empowered numerous small business owners in our region, helping them develop business plans and grow their businesses. While the process is competitive and funding slots are limited, many successful businesses across various sectors—including food, retail, trades, and services—have benefited from the program.

Successful applicants will attend a four-day bootcamp with the Opportunity Group, create a business plan to present to a committee of business owners, engage in business training, and receive ongoing coaching from Bynan Business Solutions.

"The Starter Company Plus program enabled me to create a strong business plan for future growth and success. The mentors provided invaluable tools for business owners in the area," says Steven McIntosh, owner of McIntosh Painting and Maintenance (Lanark) and a successful participant of the program.

Space is limited for each intake. Applications are open until July 19th, 2024, at 11:59 PM. To learn more about the program and to apply, visit https://smallbizcentre.ca/services/scp/.

For more information about the program or the Centre, please contact

Cindy James

Small Business Advisory Centre (Smiths Falls/Lanark County/north Leeds Grenville)

613-283-0062 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. www.smallbizcentre.ca,

Facebook page @smallbizcentre

Instagram @smallbusinesscentre_sf_lc.

About the Small Business Advisory Centre

The SBAC offers free business advisory services for anyone interested in starting or expanding their small business. We run programs such the Summer Company and Starter Company Plus, plus many webinars/workshops throughout the year. The Centre is an initiative of the Ontario Government and partners with the Town of Smiths Falls, the County of Lanark and Leeds Grenville. A business advisor is available (free) by appointment for one-on-one sessions.

MEDIA RELEASE:
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
June 4, 2024

Summer temperatures have arrived. While many welcome the warmer weather, the Health Unit is sending a reminder that high temperatures may affect your health.

Becoming over heated can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and in some cases death. Even short periods of exposure to high temperatures can cause health problems. If you experience the following symptoms after exposure to extreme heat seek medical attention immediately:

• Nausea, dizziness, blurred vision
• Difficulty or rapid breathing
• Severe headache or confusion
• Convulsion
• Fever

Everyone is at risk; however the following people are in greater danger of being affected:

• Elderly
• People with chronic illness or who take certain medications
• Infants and preschool children
• People who have challenges with housing and shelter
• People who participate in physical activity or are involved in strenuous outdoor work for prolonged period

Dr. Linna Li, Medical Officer of Health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit, advises to keep cool and hydrated when it is hot outside and to take the following precautions:

• Do not leave children, adults or pets in parked cars or sleeping outside in direct sunlight.
• Consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding the side effects of your medications.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel very thirsty. Remember to take sips often and not to guzzle your drink. Learn more about hydration at http://www.unlockfood.ca/. 
• Eat foods that have high water content such as watermelon, grapes and oranges.
• Limit caffeinated beverages such as coffee and cola.
• Avoid going out in the blazing sun or heat. If you must go outside, stay in the shade as much as possible.
• Take a cool bath or shower periodically or cool down with cool, wet towels.
• Whenever possible go to an air-conditioned room or building.
• Wear loose fitting, light clothing and a wide-brimmed hat when outdoors.
• Keep window shades or drapes drawn and blinds closed on the sunny side of your home.
• Keep electric lights off or turned down low.
• Visit a local splash pad.
• If you can, eat a variety of foods that can be https://healthunit.org/health-information/food-safety/food-safety-at-home/.
• Don’t skip meals, instead eat smaller amounts more often. Use Canada’s New Food Guide. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/canada-food-guide/tips-healthy-eating/meal-planning-cooking-healthy-choices/recipes.html. 
• Use fans to draw cool air at night, but do not rely on a fan as a main cooling device during long periods of high heat and humidity.
• Reduce the use of personal vehicles, stop unnecessary idling; avoid using oil-based paints and glues, pesticides and gas-powered small engines.

At this time Environment Canada and Climate Change has not issued a heat warning for Health Unit, heat warnings are issued when the:  

• Daytime temperature of 31ºC or higher and nighttime temperature not cooler than 20ºC for at least two days, or
• Humidex of 40ºC for at least two days

For more information on how to protect your health during extreme heat, visit our https://healthunit.org/health-information/home-health-safety/heat-cold/.  For specific health heat-related questions call 1-800-660-5853 or 613-345-5685.

You can also connect with us on https://www.facebook.com/LGLHealthUnit/. , https://twitter.com/LGLHealthUnit.  @LGLHealthUnit or Instagram @lglhealthunit.z for important public health updates.

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MISSISSIPPI-RIDEAU, May 21, 2024 – Just in time for cottage season, the Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region (MRSPR) has released a series of short educational videos about keeping your drinking water safe when drawing directly from a lake or river.  Drinking surface water is not uncommon on waterfront properties, but comes with unique risks, including increased potential for harmful algal blooms, pathogens and chemical contaminants to impact drinking water safety.

The MRSPR’s  new four part video series address these issues, discussing the pros and cons of available at-home water treatment options and even taking viewers on a tour of an Otter Lake resident’s water treatment setup. “Drinking water safety is paramount for lake residents, but it can be difficult to find reliable information to ensure you’re taking the right actions to keep your family safe,” said Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Program Manager Marika Livingston. “We hope these videos can shed some light on the risks and offer easy solutions to help residents manage them.”  

A recent study of private drinking water supplies on seven major lakes in the Upper and Middle Rideau Valley watershed found that approximately 1,000 residential properties draw water directly from their lake. About one third of these properties reported they are drinking that surface water. The study recommended more public education for users of private surface water and groundwater systems, with a focus on the rising issue of harmful algae blooms on lakes and how to choose an appropriate private water treatment system for your property to ensure safe drinking water. This may include a combination of filters, chemical disinfectants, UV light disinfection, water softening or reverse osmosis. Each system comes with its own benefits and limitations, including the little-known fact that UV light disinfection is not effective for removing the toxic bacteria present during a harmful algal bloom (sometimes called a blue-green algae bloom).

The video series can be found here: Surface Water Treatment - You Tube 

More information about drinking water protection in general – including how residents can help keep contaminants out of their drinking water sources – can be found at www.mrsourcewater.ca. 

More to explore: The MRSPR, in partnership with local conservation authorities and neighbouring source protection regions, helps produce the Drinking Water Wise webinar series focused on informing residents about drinking water issues. Find recordings of past webinars and sign up on the mailing list to hear about upcoming dates here: Drinking Water Wise Webinars - Quinte Conservation 

Contact: Marika Livingston, Project Manager Mississippi-Rideau Source Protection Region

613-692-3571 x 1148

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The County of Lanark and participating municipalities (INCLUDING DRUMMOND/NORTH ELMSLEY) intend to utilize Wagar & Corput Weed Control Inc. to control weeds along rural roadsides within the County of Lanark.

The spraying will occur on pre-selected local municipal and county roads within the County of Lanark. View Drummond/North Elmsley's  2024 Spray Locations.

The Contractor will be using the following pesticides registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada): ClearView Herbicide (Reg #29752), containing the active ingredients Metsulfuron-methyl and Aminopyralid, (present as potassium salt), and Gateway Adjuvant (Reg #31470), containing the active ingredients Paraffinic Oil and Alkoxylated alcohol non-ionic surfactant.

This pesticide use falls under the exception to the cosmetic pesticide ban mentioned in subsection 7.1 (2) of the Pesticides Act for uses related to the promotion of public health or safety.

Commencing: June 3rd through July 5th, 2024 (weather permitting).

For further information contact:
Wagar & Corput Weed Control Inc., 613-938-2117 (collect calls accepted)
Lanark County Public Works, 613-267-1353 or Toll Free 1-888-952-6275
Town of Mississippi Mills, 613-256-2064
Township of Montague, 613-283-7478
Drummond North Elmsley Township, 613-267-6500

For information regarding boom and targeted spot spraying of weeds, including details of the specific road sections and how they will be treated, visit the County of Lanark website at www.lanarkcounty.ca. These lists outline the control method to be used, which include boom spraying, targeted spot spraying, hand removals and no spray zones

For further information on spraying in Drummond/North Elmsley please visit the Wild Parsnip portion of our website https://www.dnetownship.ca/living-here/wild-parsnip

MEDIA RELEASE:
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
May 13, 2024

Spring has sprung! This time of year is often the time for doing some clean up around your yard, at the cottage or any property you own. The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit want to remind you that this activity can expose some hazards that may not be safe. Take precautions to help reduce your risk of infection.

Mosquitos and Ticks https://healthunit.org/health-information/home-health-safety/insect-bites-diseases/. 

Cleaning up around the yard, including trimming brush, will also help reduce tick and mosquito breeding grounds. These pests live close to their breeding sites and can carry disease.

·         Wear protective equipment that will protect you from insect bites and rashes from annoying weeds.

·         Remove dead brush and cut down long grass.

·         Empty and remove containers that hold stagnant water such as old tires, swimming pool covers, clogged gutters, unused toys or vehicles – mosquitos can breed in this water

·         Creating a natural physical separation between your yard and wooded areas using a border of wood chips or gravel.

·         Cleaning up areas under and around bird feeders to reduce the attraction of small critters such as mice that help transport ticks and are necessary hosts for ticks to complete their life cycle.

·         Do a tick check when you return inside. If possible, have someone check you from behind. Check your pets for ticks as well. Promptly remove ticks and nymphs using tweezers or a tick twister. 

Droppings: https://healthunit.org/health-information/home-health-safety/household-pests-rodents/. 

When it comes to cleaning up inside the cottage, garage or shed, be prepared. You may find small accumulations of mouse, bird, raccoon, or bat droppings. These droppings may have harmful micro-organisms that are released into the air in the dust as you clean up. To reduce harm from droppings, follow these tip prior to cleaning up a garage, shed or cottage:    

• Open windows and doors for ventilation for about 30 minutes before your begin cleaning.
• Wear disposable gloves and a face mask to protect from breathing in dust and droppings.
• Wet down areas where droppings have been left with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
• Shovel the wet droppings into a garbage bag along with any cleaning cloths and then seal the bag well for disposal.
• Wash your hands well after you have finished.
• Assistance from a professional may be needed for heavy accumulations of droppings or where there is a significant infestation by rodents or other animals.

Wild parsnip https://healthunit.org/health-information/home-health-safety/dangerous-weeds/. 

Wild Parsnip, Poison Ivy, and Giant Hogweed are three common noxious weeds in our area. Coming into contact with these dangerous weeds can cause severe skin reactions. To prevent the growth of these dangerous weeds:

• Mow the grass and trim the ditches regularly. Mowing the ditch helps control the growth of wild parsnip. Keeping the plant mowed will prevent the plant from flowering and spreading its seeds.

Well Water https://healthunit.org/health-information/drinking-water/.

Spring is a great time to have your well water tested for bacteria. Run off from heavy rain may affect the safety of your drinking water. Bacteria in your well water may not affect the taste or smell. Testing your well water is the only way to know for sure if your drinking water is safe.

• The Health Unit recommends that you test your well water at least three times a year for bacteria. If the testing shows the well water is contaminated with bacteria, some actions may be required to protect your health.
• Check the Health Unit website for instructions on how to disinfect your well and information on different types of treatment units that can be installed.
• In addition to bacteria, some chemical elements that can affect health may also be found in your well water. The most common chemical elements that can affect your health and may be found in Canadian well water are: Nitrate and nitrite, sodium, naturally occurring Manganese, Arsenic, Uranium and Lead.

A thorough spring clean-up can help you enjoy outdoor activities all season long by removing conditions that are favourable for unwanted pests that may cause discomfort and disease.

For more information check our https://healthunit.org/health-information/home-health-safety/. or call 1-800-660-5853 or 613-345-5685. You can also connect with us on https://www.facebook.com/LGLHealthUnit/.  and https://twitter.com/LGLHealthUnit.  @LGLHealthUnit for important public health updates.

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Friends of the Tay Watershed
Press Release

Whether you are a visitor, new to Perth or have lived here all your life, Friends of the Tay Watershed invite you to join them on Saturday, May 25, 2024, between 2 and 4 p.m. for a free, fascinating guided tour along the Tay River and Canal between Last Duel Park and the park next to the Rainbow Bridge at the top of Mill St.

Bring your family, bring a friend, park and start your walk at either Last Duel Park (ample parking) or at the top of Mill St. (limited parking). Pick up the Tay Walk Map and walk at your own pace. Meet the local experts positioned along the route who will share their knowledge of the history, wildlife and ecology of the Tay. The route is wheelchair accessible.

Meaghan McDonald from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority will explain what shoreline naturalization is and why it’s important. At another site, her colleagues, Haley Matschke and Amanda Lange, will talk about water quality and have samples of benthic invertebrates on hand for those who like studying water critters up close.

From Friends of the Tay President, Glenn Tunnock and Drummond/North Elmsley Planner, Brady McGlade, you will learn the importance of watershed conservation in ensuring an adequate supply of water for growth and development, sewage disposal, fire, navigational safety and tourism.

Retired ecologist, Shaun Thompson, brings to the tour his lifetime of knowledge of wetlands, wildlife and habitat diversity, and river resiliency.

At another stop along the route, local historian, Susan Code McDougall, will recount tales of the Tay River and Canal. Along this same route, Colin Stephenson, will share his first-hand knowledge of Tayside Textiles and early industry along the canal in Perth.

Bring your lunch and enjoy it at the picnic shelter in Last Duel Park before the tour.

Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 25 between 2 and 4 p.m.

For information contact: Adrienne MacKay This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Media Release
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

The Leeds Grenville and Lanark (LGL) Food Charter has been around for a decade and needs some updates according to members of FoodcoreLGL. The Charter is an aspirational document that provides a vision for the food system in LGL and can be used as a guiding document by municipalities, businesses, agencies and community groups when thinking about building a more inclusive and sustainable food system. 

“Given the current level of concern about the costs of food and increasing food insecurity in our communities, examining how our food system operates is as, if not more relevant than when the charter was drafted” stated Ramsey Hart, Executive Director of The Table Community Food Centre.

The LGL Food Charter was published in 2014 following a series of public consultations across the region. Because the charter was the result of such strong and diverse community input, FoodcoreLGL members want to make sure the people of LGL have an opportunity to provide input on the proposed updates. Proposed updates to the Charter include: 

• Inclusion of a land acknowledgement
• Addition of a statement about equity in the food system
• Recognition of the impact of climate change on our food system

“We felt these updates were important to reflect how the food system connects with the other pressing social, environmental and economic challenges of our times” noted Michèle Andrews of DoorNumberOne.org.

The revised draft of the charter can be read in its entirety online. Anyone interested is encouraged to visit the http://www.foodcorelgl.ca/. FoodcoreLGL website where they can find the updated version, the link to a survey to provide feedback, and another link to register for an online discussion about the charter on May 23rd at 7pm.   

Members of FoodcoreLGL hope updating the Charter will re-engage past participants and engage new people in their work. Consultations will not be limited to the text of the charter but will include action planning to identify what can be done together, to move communities closer to realizing the vision of the Charter. 

FoodcoreLGL is a coalition of food activists and organizations who work to take practical steps to realize the vision of the Food Charter. The group has representatives from food production, community health, and community organizations. Current members are:  Michèle Andrews, DoorNumberOne.org; Leela Ramachandran,  Kemptville Campus; Danielle Labonte, Elaine Murkin and Susan Fillion, Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit; Ramsey Hart, The Table Community Food Centre; and Lorne Helsop, Lanark Federation of Agriculture. 

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Contact:
Ramsey Hart, The Table Community Food Centre, 613-267-6428 x 108, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

or

Michèle Andrews, DoorNumberOne.org, 613-793-4237, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Due to the anticipated demand for saplings this spring, the MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SAPLINGS AVAIABLE PER HOUSEHOLD HAS BEEN UPDATED TO 15. This is so we can ensure more people are able to enjoy the giveaway and plant trees throughout the Township.

The Township of Drummond/North Elmsley is giving away FREE TREE saplings to Township residents. Local Scouts will be on site helping to distribute the trees.

WHEN: Saturday May 4, 2024- 9 am to 11 am
LOCATION: Municipal Office 310 Port Elmsley Road

Giveaway Details

• Maximum 15 per household
• While quantities last
• Bring your own container to put your saplings in
• Must be a resident of Drummond/North Elmsley Township
• Homeowner is responsible to plant, water and maintain private tree

Saplings available are dependent on what we receive. We are expecting a mix  of white pine, spruce, and cedar.