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Haldimand County unveils new aerial truck, donates unused medical equipment to Ukraine

On Tuesday, June 21, 2022, the county’s new, state-of-the art aerial truck made a stop out front of the Haldimand County Administration Building. Emergency Services staff provided Council with a tour of the new vehicle and showcased surplus PPE/medical supplies that will be donated to Ukraine.

The new aerial truck was custom-built for Haldimand’s specific needs and will be permanently stationed in Caledonia.

It is equipped with a 107-foot extension ladder that will allow firefighters to get on top of emergencies in more densely populated areas of west Haldimand and enhance their ability to fight fires in tall structures (including barns).

Combined with aerial trucks in Jarvis and Dunnville, the new vehicle will enable the Fire Department to respond with an aerial truck anywhere in the county within ten minutes.

In tandem with Council’s tour of the new truck, Emergency Services staff revealed some of the surplus medical equipment that is being donated to Ukraine. Staff worked to identify key supply needs and ‘matches’ with some of the county’s surplus items.

“The surplus equipment – which includes medical bags, stair chairs and spinal boards – would normally go on the GovDeals.ca auction site and generate a small profit for the County,” said Jason Gallagher, Haldimand County’s Fire Chief and Manager of Emergency Services.

“The benefit of donating these extra supplies where they’re desperately needed in Ukraine, far outweighs any revenue benefit we would receive. I am proud of our team for coordinating this initiative and know that it will make an impact,” Gallagher continued.

The new aerial truck will go into service in July and medical supplies will be shipped to Ukraine later this month.

For more information about Haldimand County Emergency Services programs and services, visit HaldimandCounty.ca or follow along on Twitter or Instagram (@HaldEmerg).

Haldimand County Fire Department aerial truck parked out front of the County administration building with extension ladder fully extended.

Above: Haldimand County’s new aerial truck.

Below: Unused medical equipment that will be donated to Ukraine.

Unused medial equipment displayed in front of the County administration building that will be donated to Ukraine.

Haldimand County Museums annual car and truck show returns June 26

Haldimand Museums will be welcoming back classic car and truck enthusiasts for the 16th Annual Car & Truck Show on Sunday, June 26 at Selkirk Community Park (17 Kent St., Selkirk) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission to this family-friendly event is by donation; a $5 entry fee applies to participating vehicles.

Returning after a two-year pause, the popular annual event provides a place for vintage vehicle enthusiasts from around southern Ontario to celebrate their shared love of all things automotive.

“We’re looking forward to hosting our classic vehicles again this year,” says Dana Stavinga, Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum Curator. “Two years is a long time not to have been able to get together!”

While the event is centred around cars and trucks, there will be a silent auction, door prizes and trophies for drivers. DJ Frank Vessero will be on site playing music from the 50s and 60s and Shelly’s Family Dining from Kohler will be serving up a variety of tasty food.

For information about the Car Show please contact the Wilson MacDonald Memorial School Museum at (905) 776-3319.

From left to right: Kyle Schweyer (1960 Chevy Half Ton Pick-up), Rick Koson (1953 Ford Mercury), Bob Tietz (Haldimand Museums).

Haldimand County puts out call for artists for phase two of Paddle Art Tour Haldimand

Submissions are now open for phase two of Paddle Art Tour Haldimand (PATH), an initiative that celebrates the municipality’s local talent and the importance of the Grand River and Lake Erie to Haldimand County.

Launched in 2021, the PATH became a popular activity for Haldimand County for both residents and visitors, showcasing 24 unique designs created by 23 local artists who used wooden paddles—hand-made by local high school students—to create art portraying the area’s natural landscapes, wildlife, history and more.

Building on the popularity of the tour, the County is inviting local emerging and established artists to submit a sketch and description of an image they would like to paint on one of six new paddles that will be added to the PATH this year. Each paddle blade is a surface of 28″ x 7″ and will be installed handle upright. Selected artists will receive an honorarium of  $500. The paddles will be installed at Haldimand County trail locations.

Interested artists can send submissions electronically to partnerships@haldimandcounty.on.ca, in person or by mail to the Haldimand County Administration Building c/o Community Development & Partnerships, 53 Thorburn St. S., Cayuga, ON  N0A 1E0.

The closing date for submissions is July 7, 2022, at 4 p.m. and selected artists will be notified by July 14, 2022.

Collaboration Between Social Services and Community Paramedics Serves to provide Street Outreach to Vulnerable Residents

Haldimand-Norfolk Housing and Homelessness Prevention services has teamed up with the community paramedic programs in both Haldimand and Norfolk to provide street outreach and housing-related follow-up support to assist people who are experiencing homelessness. 

A new collaboration between community paramedics in both counties and specialized outreach workers reduces barriers to care faced by vulnerable, underserved, and hard-to-reach residents. The goal is to connect people to services they may require, including housing and health care.  

“We recognized this as an opportunity to be proactive and meet people where they are, making the services more accessible and responsive,” said Louise Lovell, program manager for Haldimand-Norfolk Homeless Prevention Services. “Combining a social services staff member and a community paramedic offers a wider range of services to more people.”  

Sarah Page, chief of Norfolk Paramedic Services, and Jason Gallagher, fire chief and manager of Haldimand Paramedic Services, both expressed praise for this partnership. “Expanding our community paramedicine programs to provide access across our counties to those in need of care outside our normal health care system is what we are striving to accomplish,” said Sarah Page. “Both Chief Gallagher and I recognize that this partnership with Haldimand-Norfolk Social Services highlights our regions’ ability to collaborate and find innovative solutions in rural areas for health care delivery and access to support.”

The pilot began early in 2022 and is expected to continue through the end of the year. The teams are deployed in Haldimand on Tuesdays and Norfolk on Wednesdays. Members of the general public or agencies that have clientele that might be served by a visit can call the following numbers: in Norfolk: 519-426-6170 or 519-582-3579 or in Haldimand: 905-318-6623 at Ext. 3134 and a team can be deployed.  Callers are asked to provide a specific location or a description of where they have seen people. 

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Haldimand County seeking public input to enhance Selkirk Waterfront Way through survey, in-person consultation

Haldimand County is seeking community input to enhance Selkirk’s Waterfront Way. A survey has been developed to collect feedback from residents and establish a community-driven vision for the Waterfront Way. An in-person consultation session is also planned.

In its present state, Waterfront Way is a scenic site offering views of Lake Erie, Selkirk Creek and a forested environment. This site features an existing trail with a pedestrian bridge connecting Erie St. South to Blue Water Parkway.

Specifically, feedback is being sought for the parkette leading to the Waterfront Way Trail – a part of the larger Great Lakes Waterfront Trail.

Landscape architecture and planning firm Stempski Kelly Associates Inc. will be facilitating the community engagement process and have produced conceptual designs for the Waterfront Way Parkette leading to the trail.

Conceptual designs are available on the county website at www.haldimancounty.ca/projects-initiatives/selkirk-waterfront-way and highlight several considerations – from walkway/dock configuration and materials to decorative planters, shade structures and seating.

Residents are encouraged to take the survey online and provide comments by Sunday, June 19, 2022.

Members of the public may also attend an in-person consultation session at the Selkirk Centennial Community Centre (34 Main St W, Selkirk) on Monday, June 20, 2022 from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. to learn more and provide input. Registration is not required and all are welcome.

Feedback collected through the survey and in-person consultation will be used to inform the final designs for the parkette.

Anyone seeking further information about the survey or Selkirk Waterfront Way enhancements in general are encouraged to call 905-318-5932 or e-mail Haldimand County’s Community Development & Partnerships division at cdp@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Haldimand County welcomes My Main Street Ambassadors to provide on-the-ground support for local businesses and entrepreneurs

Haldimand County’s Economic Development and Tourism  Department is pleased to introduce Main Street Ambassadors Jenna Beemer and Jessica Easson as part of our community’s participation in the My Main Street Local Business Accelerator program.

Through the Government of Canada’s My Main Street Local Business Accelerator, delivered by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO), businesses and entrepreneurs in Haldimand County will have access to these dedicated Main Street Ambassadors who will offer insight and support to help revitalize the main street community. The Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), provided EDCO and the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) with a $23.25-million investment to deliver My Main Street support across southern Ontario.

“Our government is committed to supporting small businesses to drive economic growth in communities across Southern Ontario,” says the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario. “The My Main Street program invests in local small businesses and communities to keep our neighbourhoods vibrant, grow our economy and make sure Canadians have access to good jobs.”

“We have a great business community and passionate business owners, and we are looking forward to working with them to further improve the retail mix and increase the diversity of business offerings,” says Lidy Romanuk, Haldimand County’s Manager of Economic Development and Tourism.

In their roles, Jenna and Jessica, will be working over the next year to help grow existing businesses and welcome new entrepreneurs—and business ideas—to the area. As a part of the Local Business Accelerator program, Caledonia, Cayuga, Jarvis, Hagersville, Dunnville and Selkirk business owners will be eligible for detailed market research, data analysis, business support and more.

For more information, please contact Jenna Beemer at jbeemer@haldimandcounty.on.ca or Jessica Easson at jeasson@haldimandcounty.on.ca and visit the My Main Street website. For local program updates the Haldimand County website.

Background:

The Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) is delivering the My Main Street, Local Business Accelerator program stream, which is supporting the revitalization of main street communities and provides non-repayable contributions for more than 650 local businesses across southern Ontario. The program focuses on creating and maintaining vibrant and inclusive local main streets while providing residents, new entrepreneurs, and existing businesses with economic opportunities in our communities.

For more than 12 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Haldimand Logo, My Main St Logo, Government of Canada Logo

Residents invited behind the scenes at Haldimand County Administration Building open house, Sat., Jun. 18

Haldimand County is pleased to invite the community to tour behind the scenes of the Haldimand County Administration Building with an open house event on Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“The new administration building has been instrumental in bringing us together as staff, and enhancing our customer service through a centralized model,” said Chief Administrative Officer, Craig Manley. “With the building officially opening right as the pandemic hit, we weren’t able to share it with the community the way we’d planned. And while some residents may have already visited for County business, I’m pleased that we now have the opportunity to provide the community with this in-depth look.”

The open house will include guided tours, informational displays, a look at the County’s historical artifacts/collection, and light refreshments. Attendees will have the opportunity to view staff and council areas as well as learn about the many cultural and heritage aspects included in the building’s design. The Port Maitland ‘On The Grand’ Historical Association will also be onsite to unveil a portrait of Frederick Haldimand that will be hung in the lobby.

The Haldimand County Administration Building officially opened to the public in February 2020. The goal of the new building was to provide a centralized customer service model that would enhance customer experience, maximize administrative/operational efficiencies, improve accessibility, and ensure long-term cost effectiveness.

Learn more about the history of the project on the County website.

Faces of Paramedicine Week; Spotlight on Haldimand County’s Specialty Paramedic Program

Haldimand County’s Paramedic Specialty Programs are essential in delivering specialized in-home service through community outreach programs while offering mobility in care with our Bike Medic Program. These personalized programs keep our community healthy and provide specific care to our residents based on their needs. One of its initiatives is to incorporate animal therapy into the care of clients.

The Community Paramedic Wellness Dog Program brings a deeper connection and support to our existing Community Paramedic Programs. The CP Wellness Dogs can be used in home visits, wellness clinics, and community outreach programs. Animal therapy has long been proven to lower stress, improve feelings of wellbeing, support people through difficult situations, and bring happiness to those they visit.

The CP Wellness Dogs Program is fortunate to have several families and businesses generously donate their suitable dogs for use in this program. If successful in the evaluation and training process, these dogs will be partnered with a Community Paramedic Handler to improve the health and wellness of the people they are visiting.

Haldimand County also has a Bike Paramedic Program that deploys paramedics on bicycles at community events, fairs, and festivals. The Bike Medic program is looking forward to another successful year, quickly responding to patients and providing initial emergency care until an ambulance arrives. The Bike Medics will be attending many events throughout the county; keep an eye out for them during the spring and summer festival season.

The Haldimand County Paramedic Program is diversifying its services to meet the needs of our residents through localized and specialized care. Our Community Paramedic Wellness Dogs Program is making strides to connect people with animals to promote overall wellbeing. Whereas our Bike Medics are actively in the community to ensure you remain safe as summer activities resume. Over the next few months, keep an eye on our Paramedic Speciality Programs tailoring care to meet your needs.

Volunteers a key part of making Haldimand County a vibrant, caring community

April 24-30 is National Volunteer Week and an ideal time to celebrate Haldimand County’s dedicated volunteers for their substantial contributions to the quality of life of its communities. It’s also a great time for anyone who is looking to give back to their community to get involved close to home.

“Haldimand County has always benefitted from a strong volunteer base with residents, service clubs and other community organizations giving their time and talents to taking care of community assets as well as organizing programming, sports, festivals and events and more,” says Katrina Schmitz, Manager – Community Development & Partnerships.

“During the pandemic, many of these facilities, activities and programs had to be suspended and volunteers were lost to other commitments and life changes. We’d like to do what we can to support volunteers—both former and new ones—to re-engage with those opportunities.”

To help connect prospective volunteers and organizations, Haldimand County will soon be introducing a volunteer portal where community-minded individuals can reach out to be partnered with volunteer groups that needs their skills and time. Interested participants can email cdp@haldimandcounty.on.ca for more information.

“Residents and users may not realize how many volunteers and groups work together throughout the county to operate everything from community halls, parks and sports fields as well as beautifying our communities and building recreational and cultural amenities,” adds Senior Community Partnership Liaison Sheryl Sawyer. “Many of these groups have seen a decline in their volunteer base and are eager to recruit new members. Any commitment of time can help and there are a wide variety of ways to get involved.”

To find out more about volunteer opportunities in Haldimand County, contact cdp@haldimandcounty.on.ca or 905-318-5932 x 6320.