Lindsay Advocate — News. Community. Wellness.

Local EQAO results: Grade 3 math, reading, writing improves; Grade 6 math drops again

Published on September 20, 2017 in Education by Roderick Benns

Trillium Lakelands District School Board is seeing advancement in Grade 3 reading, writing, and math, while still being challenged by Grade 6 math scores, according to just-released numbers.

The Education Quality and Assessment Office (EQAO) shows improvements in Grade 3 reading, writing, and math in comparison to 2016 data. Results across Grade 6 show progress in reading and writing, with an ongoing decline in Grade 6 math performance, as first reported by The Lindsay Advocate last month.

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Hope says Lindsay residents will ‘rise up and contribute’ with basic income

Published on September 19, 2017 in Education/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

The leader of Trillium Lakelands District School Board has positioned himself squarely in favour of Lindsay’s basic income pilot, saying there are “so many possibilities” for it to do community good.

Director of Education Larry Hope says his “personal belief is that we have to look at the big picture for our citizens and for society,” he says, referencing the basic income pilot that begins this fall in Lindsay.

“If we can step back and take a look at this, we cannot deny that this will be good for our community,” Hope tells The Lindsay Advocate.

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Dog days of summer? Lindsay basks in high temperatures during fair week

Published on September 19, 2017 in Around Town by Roderick Benns

Lindsay continues to bask in hot summer weather, even though summer itself has supposedly started to transition into fall.

With the start of the Lindsay Central Exhibition this week – typically a fair that sees its share of rain — there seems to be little chance of precipitation in the forecast so far.

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Proposed $7 million boost for roads, arenas, more in 2018

Published on September 18, 2017 in Around Town/Community/Local News by Roderick Benns

Kawartha Lakes introduces Heritage Awards Program

City of Kawartha Lakes’ Chief Administrative Officer Ron Taylor has proposed another $7 million investment in capital works projects for the City for 2018, such as for roads and arenas.

In outlining the general direction for the 2018 budget, Taylor and his staff described the 2018 budget as the first step in the roll-out of the 10 year financial plan that was adopted by Council this year.

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Five days in September: One of Ontario’s top 10 fairs set to open

Published on September 18, 2017 in Around Town/Community/Events by Roderick Benns

When the Lindsay Central Exhibition began, the idea of Canada was still 13 years away. What started out as a modest event of the Lindsay Agricultural Society has turned into the fourth largest agricultural fair in the province and one of Ontario’s top 10 fairs overall.

In fact, General Manager Harry Stoddart says the five day event which starts Sept. 20 this week, had gotten so large and sprawling that organizers took steps to make it feel more intimate this year.

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Food bank use up on eve of Hunger Awareness Week

Published on September 15, 2017 in Community/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

More Ontarians are accessing a food bank today than there were in 2008, and there has been a 20 per cent increase in seniors using food banks during the same time.

These sobering statistics were shared by Kawartha Food Source on the eve of Hunger Awareness Week, held Sept. 18-22.

Hunger Awareness Week is coordinated by Food Banks Canada and its provincial and community food bank associations across the country. It tells the story of the individuals and families that turn to food banks for help.

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The beer can family and the faces of poverty

Published on September 14, 2017 in Opinion/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

From my kitchen window I could see the two girls were about four and six years old.

They had just hopped out of a rusting, black Suzuki Esteem, circa 2001 maybe, making a beeline for our large recycling bin.

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Celebrate the environment and Canada at 150 at Ken Reid Conservation

Published on September 13, 2017 in Around Town/Environment by Roderick Benns

A free family event at Ken Reid Conservation Area on Oct. 14 will celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday and the environment.

The event, organized and hosted by the Kawartha Conservation Foundation, will feature hands-on environmental displays, guided hikes, and two live animal shows.

“This is going to be a really fun way to come out and celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday by exploring our natural heritage spaces and local wildlife, and discovering our watershed’s environmental issues, initiatives, and organisations,” explains event organizer and Foundation Chair Julia Taylor.

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New home for Community Care will allow for future growth

Published on September 11, 2017 in Around Town/Community by Mike Puffer

Future home for Community Care will allow for future growth

There will soon be a flurry of activity at 21 Angeline St. N. in Lindsay, as demolition of the former OPP building is anticipated for the fall. Arrangements for the demolition at the property now owned by the Community Care Health and Care Network are being finalized.

The site will be the future home of a new health services building for Community Care. Construction of a new health care facility will be in 2018. The new facility will bring together Community Care’s Lindsay-based Community Health Centre (CHC) programs and will enable the organization to provide expanded, more cost-effective services that allow for future growth.

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Laurie Scott ‘certain’ health will improve under basic income pilot

Published on September 11, 2017 in Health/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

Member of Provincial Parliament Laurie Scott says she is certain that as incomes increase under a basic income, or through finding a better job, this will lead to improved health for Lindsay-area residents.

The Progressive Conservative MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock says she is “glad Lindsay was chosen” and that she welcomes the basic income pilot.

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