NEWS RELEASE

Additional booster dose will provide an extra layer of protection against severe illness and hospitalization

April 06, 2022
Ministry of Health

TORONTO — The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is expanding eligibility for fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to individuals aged 60 and over as well as First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals and their non-Indigenous household members aged 18 and over starting on April 7, 2022. Expanding booster eligibility will provide an extra layer of protection against the Omicron and BA.2 variants and, in addition to antivirals, are another tool the province is using to live with and manage COVID-19.

“As we continue to live with COVID-19, we are using every tool available to manage this virus and reduce its impact on our hospitals and health system, including by expanding the use of booster doses,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Vaccines are our best defence against COVID-19 and its variants. Because of our exceptionally high vaccination rates and Ontario’s cautious approach, we currently have one of the lowest hospitalization rates in the country and have performed well throughout this pandemic when compared to other similar sized provinces and states. I encourage everyone who’s eligible to get boosted as soon as you’re able.”

Starting on Thursday, April 7 at 8:00 a.m., eligible individuals will be able to book their fourth dose appointment through the COVID-19 vaccination portal or by calling the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900, directly through public health units that use their own booking systems, through Indigenous-led vaccination clinics, participating pharmacies, and participating primary care settings.

Locations and timing for additional boosters may vary by public health unit based on local planning and considerations.

Ontario has been offering fourth doses of the COVID-19 vaccine since December 30, 2021 to vulnerable populations including residents of long-term care homes, retirement homes, First Nation elder care lodges and older adults in other congregate care settings that provide assisted-living and health services. Providing additional boosters to these groups has helped to prevent serious outcomes in the population during the Omicron wave.

All eligible Ontarians are encouraged to get their fourth dose as soon as possible. As with vaccines for other diseases, you are protected best when you stay up to date.

Quick Facts

• As of April 5, 2022, Ontario has administered more than 32 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with more than 92 per cent of Ontarians aged 12 and over having received at least one dose, more than 91 per cent having received a second dose and more than 55 per cent having received a booster.
• If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007), which is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and capable of providing assistance in more than 300 languages.
• As of April 5, over 72 per cent of long-term care residents have received their fourth dose.

Additional Resources 

• Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines: Recommended Doses
• For public inquiries, please contact the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY for people who are deaf, hearing-impaired or speech-impaired: 1-866-797-0007).
• For resources in multiple languages to help local communication efforts in responding to COVID-19, visit Ontario’s COVID-19 communication resources webpage.
• Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect the people of Ontario from COVID-19.

Media Release
Algonquin College

(Pembroke-April 6, 2022) Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) – Lanark & Renfrew is excited to announce that it has a new website portal designed to support newcomers in our communities with settlement in integration resources.

The new site has been created with the support of the LIP-Lanark & Renfrew’s Creating Connections working group members and a partnership with the Human-Centred Design Lab, an interdisciplinary postgraduate program and research lab at Algonquin College’s Ottawa Campus focused on evidence-based design strategy. More than 75 resource items have been curated to support newcomers from the moment they land in our community to the time they become Canadian citizens.

The website portal has supporting content that falls under eight categories, including Welcome to Our Community, Getting Settled, Healthcare & Education, Learning Opportunities, Taking Care of Your Money, Keeping Your Home and Family Safe, Learn About Canada & Local Communities, and Becoming a Canadian Citizen.

“This project has been months in the making, and this is only the start,” says Jodi Bucholtz, Manager of Local Immigration Partnerships-Lanark and Renfrew. “This resource website will continue to grow and improve to meet the needs of our newcomer community across Lanark and Renfrew Counties as part of our broader strategy to help our region become a more diverse population, to address issues such as labour market attraction, population decline in rural areas and a more inclusive society” adds Bucholtz.

During community consultations, feedback received indicated that there was still a lack of awareness of the services provided through the Local Immigration Partnership in Lanark and Renfrew. In particular, community groups and individuals wanted to know more about how they can support newcomers and work in partnership with LIP to help attract and retain more newcomers in the region. The website is a dynamic portal that acts as a virtual settlement service to help our newcomer population find the validated information that they seek while also building greater awareness in our communities of the role of LIP.

IP – Lanark & Renfrew encourages community members, organizations, community groups, and municipalities to bookmark this resource and add it as a link on your website. As more people in our community learn about this portal, they will be able to share it with newcomers, helping them settle in the area.

Learn more about this new resource by visiting https://liplanarkrenfrew.ca/newcomers/.

Local Immigration Partnerships are funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), a department of the Government of Canada, and support communities in bringing together service providers, settlement agencies, community groups, employers, municipalities, and other key organizations to create a welcoming and inclusive community for newcomers. In Lanark and Renfrew Counties, the work of Local Immigration Partnership is administered by Algonquin College’s Pembroke Campus.

For more information,

Jodi Bucholtz
Manager, Local Immigration Partnership – Lanark & Renfrew
141 Lake Street
Pembroke, ON K8A 5L8 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
613-735-4700, ext. 2712
liplanarkrenfrew.ca

MEDIA RELEASE:
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
April 4, 2022

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. While not all Black legged ticks in our area carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease, a significant number do, 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.

·       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 nymphs and promptly remove and dispose of them.

·       You can take a quick shower 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. Consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

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 in Instagram.

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For media interviews, contact:  Susan Healey, Communications Co-ordinator or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting on March 22, 2022, Council made the decision to close the Ferguson’s Falls Community Hall to the public effective April 1, 2022. Citing the poor condition of the building, a report provided by a structural engineer and a condition assessment report, Council took this step for safety concerns. The Township recently has received a $750,000 grant to repair the community hall this year.

For further information, please contact:
Cindy Halcrow,
Chief Administrative Officer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
613-267-6500

Upcoming Meetings
• Council Meeting: April 12, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
• Committee of the Whole: April 12, 2022 following the Council meeting
• Official Plan Review Public Meeting April 12 at 5:00 p.m.

Water Levels Are Slowly Declining Across the Rideau Valley Watershed

(WCS – R07/2022)
April 1, 2022 – The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is issuing a HIGH WATER SAFETY message for all areas. Water levels and flows are declining for most areas of the Rideau Valley Watershed, except for the reservoir lakes which are discussed below.

The short-term forecast indicates mostly above zero temperatures and limited precipitation, although there is a possible rain event coming later next week. The snow has melted across the lower watershed, but some snow remains in the upper watershed, near Perth.

Parks Canada staff who manage the water levels for the Rideau Canal are carefully watching the water levels in the upper watershed lakes. The water levels in the Upper Rideau and Big Rideau Lakes are high but are no longer increasing. The water levels in Bobs and Christie lakes continue to rise due to on-going snowmelt and will be managed depending on the rain amounts next week and inflow responses in both watersheds. 

Extreme caution should be exercised by everyone when near local waterbodies. Parents should inform their children of the risks and provide appropriate supervision. Pets should be leashed near all bodies of water. Please contact your municipality if you see any ice jams that are causing localized flooding.

This watershed conditions statement is in effect until April 15, 2022 at 5 PM. No further updates will be issued unless the forecast or conditions change.

More Information:
Contact: 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.
www.rvca.ca/watershed-conditions
 
"Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is a partnership of municipalities within the Rideau Valley watershed created under the Conservation Authorities Act to deliver a range of programs in watershed management and natural resource conservation."

RVCA Watershed Conditions Statements:

• Water Safety – High flows, unstable banks, melting ice or other factors that could be dangerous for recreational users such as anglers, canoeists, hikers, children, pets, etc. Flooding is not expected.
• Flood Outlook – Early notice of the potential for flooding based on weather forecasts, calling for heavy rain, snow melt, high winds or other conditions that could lead to high runoff, cause ice jams and/or lakeshore flooding or erosion.
• Flood Watch – Flooding is possible in specific watercourses or municipalities. Municipalities, emergency services and individuals in flood prone areas should prepare. 
• Flood Warning – Flooding is imminent or already occurring in specific watercourses or municipalities.

Lanark County
Media Release
For immediate release
March 31, 2022

From April 11 through December 2022, motorists can expect lane reductions on the Rideau Ferry Bridge during its 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, located on County Road 1, 6 kilometres north of Hwy. 15.

Work includes the replacement of the concrete curbs and steel railings, as well as installation of a new concrete wearing surface.

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.

Due to road-width constraints, pedestrians cannot be accommodated during the first stage of the construction and will be restricted from crossing the bridge from April to July. Cyclists will have access throughout the project.

Six full bridge closures will be required throughout the year to safely accommodate the work. The full closures will be limited to 12 hours, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Advanced notification signs will be installed two weeks prior to the closures.

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

For more information regarding the work, visit https://www.lanarkcounty.ca/en/roads-trails-andtransit/rideau-ferry-bridge-rehabilitation.aspx or contact Derouin at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3194.

For more information, contact:
Sean Derouin, P.Eng, CET
Public Works Manager
Lanark County
1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3194

Lanark County 
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release
March 30th, 2022

Lanark County Council joined Warden Fenik and Jim McDonell, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing at 7 Arthur Street, Carleton Place to celebrate the completion and opening of the County’s newest community housing building.

As part of the County’s 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan and under direction of County Council, the 7 Arthur Street residence was constructed. The building contains 15 rent-geared-toincome units and 5 affordable housing units. It contains 4 fully accessible units and consists of 1- and 2-bedroom units to help address the high demand for smaller homes.

Through the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) the province invested nearly $1.062 million into the construction of the 7 Arthur Street building. The provincial contribution supported a portion of construction costs for 10 of the 1-bedroom units. OPHI provides flexible funding to all 47 of Ontario’s Service Managers to address local priorities in the areas of housing supply and affordability, including new affordable rental construction, community housing repair, rental assistance, tenant supports and affordable homeownership. The remaining construction cost of about $3.33 million was funded by County reserves.

“Community housing – whether it’s not-for-profit, co-operative or municipally owned – plays a critical role in providing housing for those who are unable to access the private rental market,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Supporting solutions like these new housing units in Carleton Place is critical as we work to keep our most vulnerable safe and housed, both during the pandemic and into the future.”

Increasing affordable housing options continues to be a primary goal of Lanark County Council. The 10-year Plan recognizes the need for more affordable housing in the community and has ambitious goals to increase housing stock and rent assistance programs over a decade. The County hopes to partner with a not-for-profit organization in its next housing development to increase capacity within other community housing providers. Last month the County issued a request for proposals seeking interest from not-for-profit organizations wishing to create new rent-geared-to-income and affordable housing units in the County and/or the Town of Smiths Falls either through developing new buildings or renovating existing buildings not currently used as residential.

Warden John Fenik (Perth Mayor) stated “7 Arthur Street is a superb asset for Lanark County. Affordable housing is a major issue in our community and across the country. Increasing community housing options for individuals and families remains a key priority for Lanark County Council”.

For more information, contact:
Emily Hollington
Director of Social Services
Lanark County
613-267-4200 ext. 2101
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This month’s issue of the Lanark log created by the Lanark County Genealogical Society contains;

• Upcoming Events
• The Keyhole House Smiths Falls
• FRED KIDD by Bill Mains
• Elmwood Cemetery; Leading the Way for Family Historians
• Queries Corner

Read the full issue of the March 2022 Newsletter Lanark Log

Perth & District Union Public Library
Contact: Erika Heesen, (613) 267-1224
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MEDIATE RELEASBook-themed mugs for sale at Perth & District Library

Starting April 1, the Perth & District Library will be selling beautiful handmade mugs that feature a book and eyeglass decoration. Handmade by local potter Anne Chambers, the mug will be available in five different colours and sold as a fundraiser for the Library.

Anne Chambers is a studio potter and ceramics instructor creating wheel thrown and altered functional porcelain. Anne has been actively involved in the craft community volunteering for both The Ottawa Guild of Potters and FUSION: the Ontario Clay and Glass Association serving as President on both boards.

“I have always had a library card since I was a child and have felt the library is one of the main anchors of a community from children right up to seniors. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful library here in Perth. I would like to show my appreciation and give back to the Perth library and community, ” said Anne Chambers.

“We are very appreciative of Anne’s generosity and support of the Library,” said Erika Heesen, CEO/Chief Librarian. “These mugs are gorgeous and would make an excellent gift for any book lover”.

Each gift-wrapped mug is $40, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Library.