Monthly Archives: August 2021

Two days after a gas explosion rocked downtown Wheatley, the community came together to support those who have been displaced from their homes.

Following an explosion Thursday night at the corner of Erie Street North and Talbot Street East, residents have gathered resources to help families who have been forced to leave their homes indefinitely. With the site still in danger of another explosion, officials in Chatham-Kent have completely cleaned up the area and placed people in hotels.

Mike Renwick and his wife Erica own Renny’s the Village Smokehouse in downtown Wheatley. Their restaurant is in the evacuation area and he couldn’t see the damage he suffered.

Still, the couple have set up a trailer with food from the Leamington Regional Food Hub for families in need.

“I’m a concerned citizen. I’ve lived in the city my whole life, so the things that happened in the last two days here really set me back. As a business owner in the city, I felt I had to give and help. There are a lot of people who need help, “said Mike Renwick.

He added that around 20 families have already stopped to pick up supplies.

“[People are] scared. Our city has just exploded, ”he said.

“They were moved from their homes. We have a family of five that I was talking to that knocked on at home. I have three children myself. They are staying in a hotel until Tuesday and they don’t know where they will stay after [that]. “

In response to CBC News, the municipality said anyone in need of shelter will continue to benefit from it, although they may have to move it from their current hotels. More details are expected next week.

Provincial officials investigate the site of the blast

According to city officials, 10 staff from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office are on site consulting with technical experts to assess the current risk.

A Windsor Hazardous Materials team is also on hand to help.

In a press release, Chatham-Kent said it was considering adjusting the evacuation area.

City officials also met with members of the Ministry of the Solicitor General and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on Saturday morning to get additional people on site.

During this meeting, the municipality said it had underlined the need for an investigation to determine the source of the hydrogen sulfide gas leak.

Chatham-Kent Administrative Director Don Shropshire told CBC News they couldn’t start cleaning up the debris until they stabilized the area and obtained readings of the hydrogen sulfide at the site damaged.

“We’re not taking any breaks until we can solve this challenge to get people back to their homes and businesses, but we have to do it when it’s safe,” he said.

At present, the municipality says it does not know exactly how many families are displaced as some are staying in hotels but others have left the area to stay with their families.

A triage center is still operating outside the Wheatley Area Arena from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for those in need of assistance. After hours, Shropshire says people can call 519-354-6628.

Hear “a lot of hope”

Lauren Anderson, president of Active Citizens of Wheatley, also supported the people.

She says they are setting up a GoFundMe and trying to get enough money to buy meals or clothes that other families might need.

“There are a bunch of different emotions that people are feeling right now, the biggest one is probably sadness and fear,” she said. “Another thing I often hear is hope. People are reaching out to see what they can do to help, who needs what.”

Anderson is a nurse at a local hospital and was working when the explosion call arrived.

“Getting that call there when I was working is something I will never forget,” she said. “We were all extremely scared of ‘Is everyone okay? Is anyone hurt? Did they find everyone?’ After I left work and the adrenaline wore off, there was also a bit of anger. ”

Right now, she says they just want the needs of families to be better taken care of, including maintaining shelter, until they can return home.

Those of Frontenac Sud and those who frequent the area will begin to notice changes as the Township rolls out its new brand image.

The brand update celebrates South Frontenac’s “natural environment and sense of community,” the township said in a press release launching the new brand on Friday, August 20, 2021. The rebranding has been initiated by the township in the fall of 2019 as part of the Frontenac Sud Strategic Plan 2019-2022. It was developed by 1dea Design + Media Inc. of Kingston, with advice from South Frontenac City Council, a municipal committee and input from the community, the township said, and “the modernized brand of South Frontenac represents the progress and future of the community, while paying homage to its roots and the natural environment.

“A brand is more than just a logo, it’s an idea or a feeling about something that develops over time,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal. “Our previous logo, developed after the merger, has treated us well over the past 21 years, but the council agreed it was time to consider the Township’s branding beyond a simple logo.

The township said the new branding is designed to exemplify “the community’s shared beliefs about who we are, how we are different and why we are special, and to reflect its active, dynamic and progressive nature,” and noted that the branding process “not only resulted in new visuals, but also the development of a narrative, including a brand story, a promise and other tools and information. that will guide how South Frontenac communicates and promotes itself in the future. The official name of the municipality will remain the Township of South Frontenac.

According to the township, the results of the community survey identified six brand attributes that represent the key traits of South Frontenac: natural, practical, user-friendly, resilient, peaceful and progressive. From these, the city committee developed stories “as a way to bring the brand to life.

“South Frontenac is more than a place; it’s a breath of fresh air, it’s where you can enjoy a more balanced and relaxed life. It is an opportunity to live in the countryside, surrounded by picturesque lakes, trails and wide open spaces while being part of a thriving and vibrant community. These are small towns with great opportunities, original offerings from artisans and traders, and easy access to all the amenities you desire. South Frontenac is the rural life you dream of without compromising on convenience or a sense of community, ”states the brand positioning statement of the South Frontenac Brand Manual.

As such, the new logo and visuals were designed to reflect the three distinct landscapes of South Frontenac, as well as its people, “represented by a community made up of smaller communities”. The four elements – Canadian Shield, Lakes and Waterways, Rural Lands and Soils, and Community – “represent what South Frontenac has been built upon, a shared sense of resilience and adventure, and what this community will continue to enjoy. and protect. “

“I am grateful to everyone involved, especially our volunteer committee and the nearly 400 residents who took the time to give us their feedback last fall as part of a public survey. it’s a true representation of a community, ”Vandewal said in a statement.

“The ‘identity’ of our community has developed over generations. With this branding exercise, we tried to put this identity into words and visuals. We can now use these new tools to strengthen who we are and what makes this place special for current and future residents and visitors.

The township said that over the next few months, the public will begin to see the new mark applied to digital media, signage, vehicle stickers and other applications. According to South Frontenac Council documents, the total cost of implementing the branding is estimated to be between $ 5,000 and $ 10,000, “most of which is contained in the operating budgets of departments and does not represent a new cost. The most significant costs will be the purchase of new vehicle decals and the replacement of some road signs / installation signs (parts of signs only).

For more information on the new branding, including the South Frontenac Brand Manual, click here.

In a letter to SDMC commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, Singh said many people and families, including Hindus and Sikhs, came from Afghanistan to India after the Taliban took control of the country.

Singh said a significant number of Afghans live in areas like Lajpat Nagar, Amar settlement and Bhogal. After the political crisis in Afghanistan, many relatives of these Afghans living in Delhi are likely to come to the city.

“They (the Afghans living in Delhi) do not have arrangements to accommodate large numbers of people, so I asked the SDMC commissioner to make arrangements for their stay and food in our community halls,” said Singh. “It’s part of our culture and the great Indian tradition of helping people in distress… so we have to help anyone who comes here in such a situation,” he added.

“The basic arrangements for the stay of Afghan nationals, medical examinations and food should be made by the civic body. Barat Ghar (community halls) and SDMC schools should be opened for people coming from Afghanistan. Accommodation, food and medical arrangements for those coming from Afghanistan should be taken in community halls and municipal schools located in Lajpat Nagar, Amar settlement, Kalkaji and other neighboring areas of the municipality. central zone, ”Singh’s letter reads.

The Taliban took control of all of Afghanistan on Sunday, triggering panic among the population and many began to flee to other countries.

CEBU CITY, Philippines – When COVID-19 hit, Remar Grace “Mai” Montecillo, for the first time after staying in the Cebu metropolitan area for six years, returned to her family in northern Catmon town from Cebu.

Mai, a 23-year-old management student who graduated from the University of the Philippines-Cebu (UP-Cebu), was surprised not only at how their humble community of Barangay San Jose flourished in a short time, but also by how the strewn rubbish had become.

“I was out of the province for six years to work and finish my studies. When I got back, I observed that our city had really made progress and that many small businesses were operating, ”Mai said in Cebuano.

“But it was troubling for me to find waste that was not properly disposed of. When I was growing up in Catmon, it was very rare to see plastic cups and bottles on the streets. One day, I was jogging in the morning, I managed to collect at least 20 discarded plastic cups in five minutes, ”she added.

With this, Mai and her family set up last April the “One Cup for a Cup” initiative, initially aimed at their milk tea business, in which they offer incentives such as discounts to anyone who can donate. recyclable plastic cups.

“Even my own mother would ask ‘Di kaha ta malugi ani?’ She said jokingly.

The first to take advantage of their discount was their neighbor’s child, who was saving up to buy his first milk tea.

“He would entrust us with the coins he had collected, saying that when he reached P75, he would then buy a cup of tea with milk. I was puzzled and asked my relatives “does he buy milk tea in installments?” So we told him to go get at least 75 plastic bottles and cups, and we’ll give you one. It only took him a few hours to collect 75 pieces. We gave him his coins back and he came home with his first cup of milk tea, ”said Mai.

With the help of her own family, peers, government and non-government organizations, and “strangers on the Internet” who shared the same plea, Mai’s marketing strategy for her family’s milk tea store eventually turned into a community development project that is now gradually helping the underprivileged of Catmon, a fourth-class municipality located 57 kilometers north of Cebu City.

“My concern at the time was the trash. And then came massive help and support, and we were able to fully mobilize the project even without funding. And I am truly grateful for the support from JCI-CSI (Junior Chamber International – Cebu Sinulog), San Jose Barangay Council, SK (Sangguniang Kabataan) San Jose and Corazon, Facebook friends, UP Sagabay, foreigners, family and UP Iskolars, ” she added.

In total, they were able to collect over 10,000 recyclable plastic cups, which ultimately enabled her to further develop the project and lead her to consider a shared community garden, where residents can plant their own vegetables, crops and fruit and reap. them for free.

“I didn’t have a green thumb at all and barely knew enough about gardening when I started the A Cup for A Cup project. But when a family member brought up the idea of ​​using them for gardening, I did my research. I spent a lot of time watching YouTube tutorials and reading gardening articles, ”said Mai.

Recently, May shared with Internet users on Facebook that some of the recyclable plastic cups they received were used to plant donated and discarded “seedlings” that they purchased from product retailers in public markets.

“We also received donation plants. But they cannot go any further. We decided to buy products rejected in wet markets like Carbon for a small fee. We thought these seeds would grow again and indeed they did! We not only tried to solve the waste management problem, but we also offered another opportunity to help people, ”said Mai.

From August 18, they were able to harvest okra, kangkong (Chinese spinach), heel (eggplant) and kilos of peppers. As they sold part of their harvest, Mai said most of it was given to their neighbors and others in Catmon who were struggling.

“Right now, we are providing seedlings for free to farmers in remote areas of Catmon. And we encouraged them to return the plastic cups where the seedlings were first planted to reuse them and give them more seedlings in return, ”said Mai.

“Our family is neither rich nor very privileged. But we can say that we are doing well since we don’t have to worry if we will have food on our table in the next few days. Others, however, are expected to struggle, especially with the pandemic. We therefore asked SK in our barangay and neighboring barangays to share this eco-garden initiative with them. They have volunteers who will then distribute the crops and plants to families who need them, ”she added.

Mai also decided to recruit a gardener to monitor and supervise the growing eco-garden.

“Realistically, it’s hard to find the balance between a 9 to 5 job and projects like these. That’s why we decided to hire people who really needed a job during these tough times. And we selected our neighbor, whose family is a 4Ps beneficiary, and whose husband recently lost his job. At the very least, we were able to provide them with a livelihood, ”she added.

In her free time, Mai virtually shares her experience and lessons in developing their eco-responsible projects to those interested in replicating them. When asked what advice she usually gives to her audience, here’s what she has to say:

“The first would be to stay true to your advocacy. It would go a long way to help you get a clearer and bigger picture of the initiative you want. “

“Second, find the right people with whom you want to share your project. Because with them, you don’t have to go far to find the problems that needed solutions.

“Third, consistency and constant communication will make everything easier. And finally, we must always remember that even small actions can make a huge difference… We cannot save everyone at the same time, but we can improve our community for them.

/ bmjo

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