CP Scoop - April 18th, 2024

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MUNICIPAL NEWS

Bare Root Tree Planting Program

To ensure the Town of Carleton Place’s tree population is maintained and enhanced for years to come, we are making trees available to Town of Carleton Place residents at a subsidized rate. For $25.00 (taxes included) a tree of 25mm in thickness and 5' to 8' in height will be made available. 

Species that are still available include:

• Sugar Maple
• Red Oak
• Bur Oak
• Hackberry
• Honey Locust
• Cortland Apple

Prior to selecting your tree, please consider the proposed location for the tree. Residents need to ensure it will have sufficient space and consider its size for the location in years to come. There are a limited number of trees available. Trees will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis and there is a limit of two (2) trees per household. Trees must be planted within Town limits.

Residents must obtain locates from Ontario One Call (www.ontarioonecall.ca) in advance of planting the trees. There is no fee for acquiring locates and obtaining locates can take two (2) to three (3) weeks to acquire all the necessary clearances prior to digging.

This year’s tree planting information session will be held virtually. Participants must register prior to the event. The virtual information session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24th at 7:00 p.m.

Because these trees are subsidized, anyone who has their name on a tree list must attend (or have previously attended) the information session to be eligible for a tree voucher.

The trees have arrived at the Carleton Place Nursery much earlier than anticipated. If you have attended the information session previously and have obtained your vouchers from the Town Hall, we are asking residents to collect and plant your trees as soon as possible to ensure they have the best chance of survival.

Residents must call prior to the session in order to be placed on a list for a tree. Call 613-257-2253 to have your name placed on the list or leave a message providing your name, address, telephone number and tree desired. Residents must pay for their trees at the Carleton Place Town Hall prior to picking up your tree to receive the voucher(s).

Join the Recreation & Culture Department as We Proudly Present The Paddling Puppeteers as Part of Earthfest 2024!

Join us this Saturday, April 20th, 2024, for this free show starting at 10:30 a.m. at All Nations Church.

- Pluggin into Nature –

Edward loves his video games and indoor time. One (1) day he goes outside and discovers the natural world. He meets a chickadee, butterfly and frog who guide Edward on a path of outdoor fun and wellness. At the end of the show, Edward helps to “plant up” the “neighbourwood.” Edward still loves his screen time but he also loves getting outside.

For more information, please contact Jessica Hansen: jhansen@carletonplace.ca 613-257-1704 

Backyard Compost Rebate Program

In an effort to reduce the amount of waste at the curb each week, the Town has a rebate program that provides residents with a $40 rebate for the purchase of a backyard composter. Residents may purchase a backyard composter of their choice and then complete and submit the rebate form. Please note: only one (1) rebate per household.

Compost 101 - We prepared this helpful tip sheet to get you started and keep you going. Composting is an excellent eco-friendly family project.  

Carleton Place Environmental Advisory Committee Presents: Growing Food in Urban Environments – A Talk with Celebrated Author Lorraine Johnson

On Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., join the Carleton Place Environmental Advisory Committee (CPEAC) in the Bob Rintoul Hall (upstairs) at the Carleton Place Arena (75 Neelin Street) for a talk with Author Lorraine Johnson.

In this inspirational talk, Lorraine explores diverse, inspiring, and unusual ways to grow food in our urban environments. Covering everything from front yards and boulevards to rooftops and public spaces such as parks and community gardens, this talk will encourage you to look at urban agriculture as a productive adventure that helps cities, communities, and people flourish. 

Lorraine Johnson has been researching and writing about environmental issues for three (3) decades. She is a community activist and advocate for protecting, supporting, and growing the urban forest. Johnson is the author or editor of 14 books, including 100 Easy-to-Grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens. She will be signing books, and Lorraine's books will be available for purchase.

For further information, contact the Event Coordinator - Barbara Purdy at cpeac@carletonplace.ca

Celebrate Earth Day with FoodCycler

Purchase a highly subsidized FoodCycler before April 30th, 2024, and receive a free refill of carbon filters.

The Town of Carleton Place has partnered with Food Cycle Science to implement a waste diversion Pilot Program by offering a FoodCycler™ at a reduced rate to interested residents. The FoodCycler™ is an electric appliance that offers in-home, countertop processing of food waste.

We are offering two (2) different model options: the FC-30 model and the Eco 5 model. There is a chart on our website at www.carletonplace.ca/foodcycler which can help you decide which model would be better for your household. The cost to the resident for the FC-30 model is $150 plus HST and the cost for the Eco 5 model is $255.56 plus HST.

If you would like to purchase a FoodCycler as part of the Town’s Pilot Program, please visit the FoodCycler page on the Town’s website at www.carletonplace.ca/foodcycler and submit the application form. Once your registration has been received, the Program Administrator will contact you via email to go over details on ordering and receiving the unit. The units will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

OTHER NEWS

Oh Baby! Springtime Babies at Almonte General Hospital

Springtime is often busy in the Almonte General Hospital Birthing Unit, but this March, things were really hopping. There were 33 babies born, almost double the number born last March!

“It’s a baby boom for our unit! It is exciting for everyone in our community as so many little humans join us,” says Dr. Melanie Fortune who is part of the Family Medicine Obstetrics team. “It is a pretty special time.”

The Almonte program includes Obstetricians, Family Physicians with additional obstetrical and newborn care training, Midwives, specially trained Nurses and Anesthetists. “We all work as a team and everyone is prepared for this increase in births,” adds Dr. Fortune.

Contributing to the boom is our growing family medicine obstetrics program which saw a big jump in numbers this month. “It’s all hands on deck and we are there to provide extra support for both Moms and babies,” says Dr. Fortune.

Lindsay Timmins has delivered two (2) of her three (3) babies at Almonte General Hospital and says she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else: “I was born and raised in Almonte and I feel comfortable at my local hospital close to home. I know some of the doctors and nurses and I trust them. It was a great experience for our family!”

Almonte General Hospital is the only rural hospital in this region providing a full range of low-risk obstetrical services, including 24/7 coverage by an obstetrician, a physician devoted to newborn care, and pain management services by Anesthetists. The unit has five (5) private postpartum rooms, each with a washroom and shower, two (2) labour and delivery rooms, showers, and an operating room for cesarean sections. Our Diagnostic Imaging team offers a full range of advanced ultrasound services and patients can book ultrasound appointments by calling 613-256-2514, extension 2114. For details, please visit our website at www.agh-fvm.com.

How is Housing First Good For the Community?

The following is part of a series about homelessness in Lanark County.

When talking about community safety and well-being, those on the front lines of human services often strive to work upstream. What does that mean, exactly? Well, if you are constantly plucking drowning people out of the river, you should go upstream to find out why they are falling into the river in the first place.

“Housing and having access to basic needs are among the key social determinants of health that help people to thrive,” explained Lanark County Director of Social Services Emily Hollington. “There is a wealth of research and data that shows having a safe and stable place to live increases a person’s well-being and success, and this is why Housing First, including supported transitional housing, is considered to be an upstream model.”

The article “Hospital Emergency Care & Homelessness” by Nadia Ali and posted by the Homeless Hub, cited research showing the longer an individual experiences homelessness, the more their health declines. They face higher rates of mortality, infectious disease, chronic illness, and long-term physical health conditions than people who are housed. Statistics from 2017 showed about 30 percent of those experiencing homelessness suffer from at least two (2) medical conditions, and the likelihood of this doubles in individuals aged 50 and over. Some barriers to health care for homeless individuals can include lack of transportation, missing health cards, inability to afford prescriptions and not having a family doctor.

In “Community Benefits of Supportive Housing,” the BC Housing Research Centre shows reduced health care and justice system costs when people are receiving supportive housing compared to those experiencing homelessness. They found for every dollar invested in supportive housing, $4 to $5 was created in social and/or economic value. Supportive housing residents were 64 percent less likely to use ambulance services than people in shelters, and hospital stay lengths were cut in half.

“Providing supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness helps to get them connected to services for health care, mental health, substance use, employment, education and more,” Hollington said. “With improved health and stability, we see corresponding decreases in the need for emergency services, including paramedics, hospitals and police and justice services.”

Statistics from a report by the Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee showed the average cost of providing social housing to one (1) household in 2017 was $613 per month, while a bed in a correctional facility cost $4,300 per month and a hospital bed cost $13,500 per month.

“When people are housed and healthier, they can be more engaged in the community,” Hollington added. “Supportive housing is a way we can tackle issues upstream and prevent people from spiraling into crisis. It takes the whole community to create a welcoming atmosphere for this type of housing, which ultimately improves well-being for everyone.”

To learn more about housing supports in Lanark County, visit the Family and Social Services – Housing page on the County’s website.

If you are experiencing homelessness, call the Lanark County Homeless Response Team at 613-267-4200, extension 2140, or 1-888-952-6275, Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or after hours at 613-206-1486.

Previous articles:

• What does homelessness look like in Lanark County?
• What is Housing First and how does it work?
• What is the by-name list all about?

Please Note: This email is not regularly monitored. Email: acharania@carletonplace.ca. Federal, Provincial, and Other news items are provided impartially, as a convenience and as a means of sharing information from higher levels of government and partner organizations.