The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit is encouraging residents to keep themselves and others healthy during respiratory illness season by staying current with their vaccinations, including flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) shots.

“By doing so, we are ensuring our critical health care services are there for those who need them most,” says Dr. Natalie Bocking, medical officer of health and CEO for the HKPR District Health Unit.

In early October, flu shots will be available for the most vulnerable and high priority populations, including those hospitalized, health care workers, and residents in long-term care and retirement homes, other congregate settings, and people aged 65 and older. Free flu shots for the public will be available starting October 28 through participating local pharmacies and primary care teams.

Also beginning in October, families with infants born in 2024 and high-risk children up to 24 months old will now have access to RSV immunization at health care providers through the publicly funded RSV prevention program. Pregnant women will also have the option to receive a single dose of an RSV vaccine that can provide protection for their infant from birth to six months of age.

The RSV prevention program has also been expanded this fall to include adults aged 60 years and older who meet also meet certain criteria, such as being residents of long-term care homes, Elder Care Lodges, or retirement homes. More information on eligibility is available at ontario.ca/rsv.

The HKPR District Health Unit will be providing the COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccines only to eligible children six months to five years of age starting in November. To book an appointment, call the health unit at 1-866-888-4577 ext. 1507.

RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness, particularly among infants, young children, and older adults, affecting the lungs and airways. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis, a common chest infection that affects infants and toddlers. Immunization is available to help prevent serious outcomes, such as hospitalization, caused by the virus, information from the provincial health ministry states.

Symptoms of RSV are similar to those of the cold or flu. They include coughing, a runny nose, fever, wheezing, a decrease in appetite and energy, and irritability in children. Because these are common symptoms, it is easy to mistake RSV for other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu or COVID-19.

“While most RSV symptoms will go away in a few days, seek medical attention if you or your child have trouble breathing, are not drinking enough fluids, or are experiencing worsening symptoms,” the ministry recommends.

RSV is very contagious and spreads the same way as other respiratory viruses: by touching droplets containing the virus after someone coughs or sneezes, or by being less than two metres apart from someone with the infection who is coughing or sneezing

After exposure to the virus, it can take two to eight days before a person becomes sick. People are usually contagious for up to three to eight days. Children are often exposed to and infected with RSV outside the home, such as in school or child care centres, and can then transmit the virus to other members of the family.

The HKPR District Health Unit offers the following suggestions to reduce transmission of respiratory illnesses during the holiday season.

• Stay up to date with immunizations, including COVID-19, flu, and RSV (if eligible).
• Skip the holiday party if you’re not feeling well and stay home while sick.
• Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces and when recovering from illness. If recovering from illness, wear a mask for 10 days after the symptoms started.
• Wash your hands often and clean high-touch surfaces frequently. If hosting or attending a holiday gathering, clean high-touch surfaces and encourage guests to wash their hands frequently or use hand sanitizer.

Ontario offers access to antiviral treatments, such as Paxlovid, through physicians, nurse practitioners, and pharmacists, with virtual care options available through Health811.

One person was seriously injured in a three-vehicle collision early Saturday afternoon (October 12) on Highway 35 in Cameron, which is located 10 kilometres north of Lindsay.

At around 12:11 p.m., Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with fire and emergency medical services responded to the collision just north of Long Beach Road.

A pickup truck, SUV, and minivan were involved in the collision.

Four occupants of the vehicles were transported to local hospitals, with one of the occupants then transported to air ambulance to a Toronto-area trauma centre.

Highway 35 was closed between Chambers Road and Long Beach Road for several hours while police documented the scene.

The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed or has video/dash camera footage of the collision and who has not spoken with police is asked to contact the City of Kawartha Lakes OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

“Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice” has raised a howling $70,000-plus for hospice care and services in Northumberland County.

As a result of “unprecedented” community support, the annual fundraising event brought home $77,390 for Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre (Ed’s House).

The September 29 event attracted more than 220 participants and just under 50 dogs to Victoria Park in Cobourg. It featured two-kilometre, five-kilometre, and 10-kilometre walks and bike rides around the town, music from DJ George Martin, a kids’ area filled with activities, and hot dogs grilled by the Lions Club of Cobourg.

“The success of the Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice event reflects the incredible support we have from our community,” said Trish Baird, CEO of Community Care Northumberland (CCN).

“We are deeply thankful for everyone who participated, volunteered, and donated. Your contributions help us provide essential services to those in need during some of life’s most difficult moments.”

Ed’s House foundation’s mission is to raise funds to support the operation of CCN’s hospice service programs, including the palliative care community team and the volunteer hospice visiting program. These services work alongside the 24/7 end-of-life care provided at Ed’s House.

Chelsea Rankin, CCN’s communications specialist, told kawarthaNOW that, in addition to the high level of community involvement, another significant factor contributing to this year’s impressive outcome was the addition of new committee members “who brought fresh energy and new connections with organizations across Northumberland County.”

“Our committee did an amazing job, and we couldn’t have achieved this without their dedication and passion,” Rankin said.

“We also introduced some great new tools, particularly the website, which made for a more enjoyable and user-friendly experience. Participants could easily download social graphics to share and enjoy a bit of friendly competition with the leader boards. Plus, registering themselves and their teams was very straightforward.”

Recently, Ed’s House underwent a significant expansion, increasing its capacity from six beds to 10 beds, aimed at providing compassionate care for additional people and families during challenging times. Due to the generosity of the community, all services are offered at no charge to clients and their families.

“The community support for Ed’s House and hospice services has been overwhelming,” said Joel Scott, director of donor relations and communications for CCN.

“To see the number of people that came together the way they did is heartwarming and reassuring of the belief Northumberland has in our care teams at hospice services.”

Further to Rankin’s comments, the momentum leading up to the event was significant, as participants created fundraising profiles on the new official website. This platform allowed teams to track donations, monitor their progress, and download social media graphics to promote the event.

The Ed’s House foundation recognizes Matthew Elder as the top individual fundraiser, having raised a total of $6,185.

“We would also like to thank the Elder family team, the Elder Avengers, for raising $9,060 and earning the title of top team fundraiser.”

During the event, Matthew Elder’s mother, Tammy Elder, delivered “a heartfelt speech about the exceptional care” her son, Travis, received at Ed’s House this year, emphasizing the profound impact hospice services have had on their family.

Lead sponsors Cameco, Lynn Hardy, and Atelier on John, dedicated volunteers, committee members, and “everyone who contributed to making Hike, Bike, and Bark for Hospice a success” were also given a shout-out.

For more information about Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre, visit edshouse.northumberlandhospice.ca.

In her new role at Peterborough Public Health (PPH), Samantha Roan says she hopes to help the health unit “build a more equitable, inclusive, and respectful future that holds space for the truth, where reconciliation is not an end goal but rather a win on the journey towards decolonization.”

Roan was recently hired by PPH as its first-ever Indigenous health manager.

Dr. Thomas Piggott, PPH CEO and medical officer of health, shared with kawarthaNOW his thoughts on the new position and his hopes for its impact on the community.

“It is a very exciting time for PPH to have Samantha join our team and help us shape this new role,” Dr. Piggott said. “PPH has committed, through our strategic plan, to allyship with Indigenous peoples. As part of that, the Indigenous Health Advisory Circle directed staff to investigate models of Indigenous engagement last year.”

“Through this, we realized PPH had the opportunity to do things differently to unlearn colonized approaches and relearn a more Indigenous way of working,” he added. “This role really allows PPH to prioritize this work, rather than asking staff to do it off the side of their desk, and to provide leadership to support all our staff in becoming better allies to Indigenous people.”

Hallie Atter, director of health promotion, told kawarthaNOW the creation of Roan’s role was an evolution in the relationship PPH has established with both First Nations and the urban Indigenous communities in the local area, through its long history of working with them.

PPH is committed to the principles of truth and reconciliation and to acting upon the 2015 Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, she noted. The health unit’s mandate through the Ontario Public Health Standards requires all boards of health to establish relationships with Indigenous partners.

“Through the release our 2022-2025 strategic plan, PPH further committed to practising active allyship for Indigenous self-determination and health equity within the health and social system,” Atter said.

“As a result of this further commitment, the board of health for PPH dedicated resources to further build our relationships with Indigenous communities and continue to promote health equity. These resources led to the creation of this new Indigenous health manager position, as an opportunity to further our work around allyship and Indigenous self-determination.”

Her hope for Roan’s role is fostering meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities.

“Meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities is essential to addressing health inequities,” Atter explained. “Samantha has great experience with Indigenous engagement, and we look forward to her leadership to guide PPH’s reconciliation, decolonization, and Indigenization journey, both internally and as part of a larger public health sector.”

“This role allows for Indigenous engagement to be a sole focus and priority, as well as to provide leadership for other staff at PPH who are working with Indigenous communities and groups.”

As for Roan, she said she is “thrilled” to be joining PPH and stepping into the new role.

“While colonization has often been taught as something historical, it is important to understand that this is ongoing and Indigenous peoples continue to face colonization’s impacts every single day,” Roan said.

“I think it is important to come to terms with the fact that so many of our systems, inclusive of public health, have been weaponized by colonial ideals and colonization, so I am excited that PPH has taken the one of the first steps in its reconciliation journey by creating this role.”

Roan said she is looking forward to working with community partners, as well as Hiawatha and Curve Lake First Nations — the two Indigenous communities within the health unit’s purview — and PPH staff.

Atter said it’s important for Indigenous populations to be engaged, participate in, and have ownership of decision-making and priority-setting around public health issues.

Roan’s role will help ensure “that our approaches and programming reflect the diverse perspectives and needs of Indigenous communities with an end goal of protecting and promoting the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples,” Atter said.

“Through the creation of this role, we hope that we are better able to support Indigenous self-determination in all our work and ensure that we are continuously working towards the most active forms of allyship.”

Roan has a bachelor’s degree in American Indian/Native American Studies and a master’s degree in public health (specializing in policy and management with an interest in Indigenous health and Indigenous health equity), both from the University of Alberta, and is a Ph.D. student at Trent University’s Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies.

From accessible washrooms where paramedics can decontaminate after a call to the number of ambulance bays, City of Kawartha Lakes council learned more about the new paramedic services base slated for Lindsay.

During its committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday (October 8), the mayor and councillors received an overview of design plans for the Angeline Street South base, which will also provide a back-up location for the city’s critical IT infrastructure and serve as a back-up for 911, as it includes Kawartha Lakes Police Service’s Backup Communication Centre.

The committee, which met in council chambers on Francis Street, heard multiple presentations on the subject, including an overview provided by Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service chief Sara Johnston.

Councillors asked various questions about design elements, costs, and the availability of grants, and sought clarification around the proposed 25-year-lease agreement with Trillium Lakelands District School Board for the property at 230 Angeline Street South, which is also the location of the Lindsay Adult and Alternative Education Centre operated by the school board.

Councillors also discussed the impact of the new centre on the surrounding neighbourhoods, and what to expect regarding response times to calls.

“Thank you all for coming today and thank you for putting up with our interrogations,” Mayor Doug Elmslie said. “Let’s go forward and build a really great building.”

Chief Johnston shared how the current paramedic facilities are outdated and insufficient to meet the needs of both staff and the growing community.

“I don’t think it comes as any surprise that the need for a paramedic facility is a very long-standing issue,” Johnston began.

“Many of the paramedics, myself included, have been here since the service was downloaded to the municipality in 2002. When that download happened, paramedics were being moved into buildings that were being used for other municipal use. So, in Lindsay, for example, the paramedics were moved into 89 Saint David Street, which is a public works facility.”

“What was intended to be a temporary solution until a facility was able to be built, or the paramedics were moved into a different location, has extended now beyond 20 years,” the chief noted.

The new building will feature more indoor parking, which is key because a temperature-controlled environment is necessary for both the ambulances and medical supplies, such as IV fluids, council heard. Inside the current facility, there isn’t room for staff to decontaminate after calls or even just keep a safe distance from each other for infection prevention and control reasons, she said.

The new facility will consolidate seven of 11 existing paramedic facilities into a central location, improving operations and efficiency, the staff report noted. Many of the existing facilities may be repurposed, particularly those identified for expansion as shared municipal spaces.

The lease cost for the new facility is offset by the savings gained from terminating a current facility lease, the report noted.

Another anticipated benefit is improved reaction times. The Paramedic Service Master Plan and Refresh evaluated facility location options by analyzing travel time performance alongside call distributions and future development trends.

“This assessment identified the proposed location as a strategic and superior alternative to the current site,” according to the report.

The original agenda noted the committee of the whole would be asked to approve a 25-year-lease agreement with Trillium Lakelands District School Board for the property and bring it forward to the next regular council meeting on October 22 for approval.

The amended agenda asked that the information regarding the paramedic headquarters and fleet centre update be received and that this recommendation be brought forward to council for consideration at the next regular council meeting.

Council earlier approved an investment in a new paramedic headquarters and fleet centre in Lindsay. In May 2023, Salter Pilon Architecture was awarded the design and contract administration for this project. Since then, staff have been working closely with Salter Pilon “to create a purpose-built facility that meets the community’s growing needs.”

Staff expect the design of the new paramedic headquarters and fleet centre will be substantially complete by the end of 2024. This facility will improve service delivery, accommodate future staffing needs, and ensure residents receive timely access to emergency medical care.”

Councillor Emmett Yeo asked if there were any purely aesthetic, and ultimately costly, design elements planned.

“Everything is purpose-built,” said Ryan Stitt of Salter Pilon Architecture.

“Speaking with chief Johnston, the goal of this was to build a functional, purpose-built facility that was meant for enhancing the paramedic services administratively and their function throughout the city. We really aren’t here to have a showcase for the city.”

The estimated cost for the paramedic headquarters and fleet centre facility is $50 million.