Lindsay Advocate — News. Community. Wellness.

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.

Keep Reading

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.

Keep Reading

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.

Keep Reading

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.

Keep Reading

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.

Keep Reading

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.

Keep Reading

Fleming College president wonders if Frost enrollment will grow during basic income trial

Published on September 9, 2017 in Education/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

Sir Sandford Fleming College President Tony Tilly says the upcoming basic income pilot in Lindsay is “exciting” – and he will be keeping an eye on Frost Campus’ enrollment numbers to see if they increase during the trial.

Tilly says a research-based pilot project is something he supports for the town, because what we’re doing as a society right now to address poverty “is clearly not working.”

“I find the idea of the pilot exciting because we need to move beyond our current means of trying to address poverty.”

Keep Reading

What’s new at Community Care?

Published on September 7, 2017 in Community by Lindsay Advocate

September 2017 Update

Below, you will find information about upcoming initiatives and events of Community Care, as well as a summary of recent activities. For further information about any of the organization’s events or programs, contact Community Care at 705-324-7323.

MEALS ON WHEELS EXPANDS IN FENELON FALLS AND BOBCAYGEON

Community Care’s popular Meals on Wheels program has responded to growing need in the Fenelon Falls and Bobcaygeon areas. In August, the noon-hour meal service expanded from three to five days a week (Monday to Friday, excluding holidays), and a two-day-a-week (Monday and Wednesday) program has just been launched in Bobcaygeon on a pilot basis.

Keep Reading

Retired businessman says basic income frees people up for opportunities

Published on September 7, 2017 in Community/Social Issues by Roderick Benns

There is a great community need to address poverty in the Lindsay area, according to retired local businessman Doug Dent, and that’s why he is welcoming the Province’s basic income pilot this fall.

Dent, formerly of Dent Industrial Sales, says basic income “frees people up to live their lives” and pursue other opportunities, from more education to better work.

Keep Reading

Teaching math: ‘We have lost sight of the need for balance,’ says director of education

Published on September 5, 2017 in Education by Roderick Benns

The director of education for Trillium Lakelands District School Board, Larry Hope, is calling for more balance in the curriculum with the return of traditional math teaching.

Results from Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released this week show that for the second year running only half of Grade 6 students are meeting the provincial math standard.

Keep Reading