Duane Hicks
Safe Communities Rainy River District has recognized the local Substance Abuse Prevention Team as an outstanding partner.
Safe Communities chair Linda Plumridge presented Tiffany Clifford-Smith and Jeanne Pasch of SAPT with a certificate of appreciation during Saturday’s annual general meeting of the Rainy River District Municipal Association in Emo.
“They have been extremely active starting a year ago in September, when they put on a workshop addressing the subject of drug-endangered children,” said Plumridge.
“Speakers were brought in from across North America and delegates arrived from all over Northwestern Ontario,” she noted.
This was followed up by an enormously-popular community barbecue this past September—bringing together a team from many local agencies that provided safety information and a free lunch.
They had such a great turnout, in fact, that they ran out of food, Plumridge said.
Then in November, the SAPT hosted another workshop with Dr. Kiti Freier Randall, an expert on children raised in an environment of substance abuse.
SAPT worked diligently to get sponsors so the workshop would be free, or at very little cost, to attendees.
“We’re so proud of your team and what you have accomplished, and we’re so glad that you’re one of our partners,” Plumridge told Clifford-Smith and Pasch.
Meanwhile, Plumridge said Safe Communities will be working with the Fort Frances Public Library Technology Centre to create an up-to-date safety database, which will complement the safety information found on the Parachute website (Parachute is Safe Communities Rainy River District’s parent organization).
Safe Communities also plans to support a “no texting” distracted driving campaign.
“If you’re driving along the highway or in town, you’ll see how many people have cellphones out—and it’s scary,” Plumridge remarked.
A notable achievement of the past year was a video made for the “Kiss ’n Ride” program initiated in Fort Frances.
Plumridge said information on the local program will be shared nationally.
She added Safe Communities is very thankful for the support all district municipalities continue to give it.
She also said the group is going to miss Freeda Carmody, who has been the RRDMA rep at the Safe Communities’ table for several years and a “great advocate for safety, both at the partners’ table and in general.”
Plumridge pointed out Safe Communities Rainy River District has volunteers from across a wide spectrum, and the board donates close to 1,000 hours of time each year.
When they include their partners, they estimate there’s more than 250 people involved volunteering over 5,000 hours “working to make our communities safer and injury-free.”
In addition to a per capita fee to district municipalities, Safe Communities here received about $5,000 in in-kind services, ranging from office supplies to meeting spaces to website support and people.
Each month, when she joins a conference call with Safe Communities from across Canada, Plumridge said she’s come to realize how fortunate the local group is to get the support, level of involvement, and concern for safety that it does.
Also at Saturday’s meeting, the RRDMA acclaimed Val Pizey as president, Peter Spuzak as vice-president, Roy Avis as NOMA vice-president, and Gord Armstrong and Ken Perry as NOMA reps for RRDMA.
As well, James Gibson was appointed as the Veterinary Services Committee rep, Ted Zimmerman as the Rainy River Federation of Agriculture rep, June Caul as the Safe Communities Rainy River District rep, Wayne Woods as the Northwestern Health Unit rep, and Peggy Johnson as the municipal staff rep on NOMA.
All of these positions are for a one-year term.
The RRDMA also:
•passed a resolution to ask the province to revise the regulations for CN payments in lieu of tax to municipalities so CN pays on a more equitable basis (this motion will be forwarded to NOMA);
•passed a resolution to call on Beef Farmers of Ontario to consider lobbying all government agencies and associations to eliminate the regulation requiring removal and disposal of SRM material (i.e., animal parts that cannot be inspected and passed for human food because of risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy);
•passed a resolution to appoint an RRDMA representative to the Rainy River District Stewardship Council;
•heard an activity update from Wade McMahon, MTO maintenance superintendent for the Kenora area (RRDMA members told McMahon that winter road maintenance has been good this year); and
•heard presentations from the Emo and Fort Frances assisted living groups; and
•heard presentations Matt Soprovich (constituency assistant for local MPP Sarah Campbell), local MP John Rafferty, Northwestern Health Unit CEO Mark Perrault, DSSAB CAO Dan McCormick, and RRFDC economic development officer Geoff Gillon.
