News

The North Stormont Fire Service will be undertaking a training session for their shuttle accreditation process this weekend on August 20th, with additional dates in September.  In order to attain the accreditation, the Fire Service must perform training exercises before the actual accreditation on the weekend of October 14-15.

The training will involve trucks shuttling from the fire hydrant in front of H.F. Smith and Sons Cartage Ltd and the old Ministry of Transportation buildings located at 15779 County Road 43.  During the training and accreditation lights and sirens will be used to simulate a live call.

The anticipated dates and times for the training are:

Sunday August 20th from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Tuesday September 5th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Tuesday September 19th from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The Township will notify the public through the Township’s website and Facebook page of additional training dates or changes to the proposed dates and times listed above.

For more information please contact Fire Chief Dan Gauvin at 613-984-2821 ext. 224 or firechief@northstormont.ca  

A portion of Bender Road between County Road 43 and Gravel Hill Road will be closed from August 14th to August 25th.  The closure is to facilitate the replacement of a bridge.

Residents along this stretch of Bender Road will have access to their properties.  Residents are being asked to take appropriate detour measures during the construction period.

A detailed map showing the location of the bridge replacement and stretch of road that is impacted is provided below.  If there are any delays in the project, the Township will issue updates on its website.

For more information please contact Public Works at publicworks@northstormont.ca or by calling 613-984-2821 ext. 227.

Mosquitoes in our area have tested positive for West Nile virus.  However, there have been no human cases reported in our region.

“The Eastern Ontario Health Unit has been actively monitoring mosquitoes for West Nile virus” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health.  “This finding shows that West Nile virus remains a concern in our area.  Residents should be aware and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families.”

West Nile virus is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito.  For most people, the risk of illness from West Nile virus is low.  However, it can cause serious illness in others.

The following measures can help reduce the risk of West Nile virus:

• Use federally registered personal insect repellents, such as those contained DEET.  Use a light coating on exposed skin.  Follow label instructions for proper application.
• Wear light-coloured clothing, long sleeves, pants and socks when outside.
• Avoid being outside at dusk and dawn, as mosquitoes are the most active at that time.
• Ensure that all containers in or around the yard like tires, pool covers, saucers for flowerpots, wading pools and children’s toys are regularly emptied of standing water.
• Ensure that screens, windows and doors are fully sealed to prevent mosquitoes from enter the house.

For more information, visit the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s website www.eohu.ca and click on the Community Health section, or call 613-933-1375 or 1-800-267-7120.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For more information about this press release, please contact Karine Hebert at 613-933-1375 ext. 294.

The Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) is advising residents that blacklegged ticks, which can spread Lyme disease to humans, are being found in a growing number of locations across Cornwall and the five eastern counties.

In the EOHU’s jurisdiction, at least 20% of blacklegged ticks are carrying the Lyme bacteria, which is why the disease is now considered endemic (or established) in Cornwall and the five eastern counties.  However, not all ticks in the area are blacklegged ticks.

Lyme disease is a serious illness that can cause the following symptoms, usually within 3 to 30 days after a tick bite:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle and joint pains
• Spasms
• Numbness or tingling
• Facial paralysis
• Fatigue
• Swollen glands
• Expanding skin rash (although many people never get or see a rash)

The risk of Lyme disease transmission from a tick to a human is very low if the tick is attached for less than 24 hours.  The risk of developing Lyme disease goes up if an infected tick is attached for over 24 hours.  “It is important to contact your health care provider if you believe a tick was attached for more than 24 hours or if you develop flu-like symptoms or an expanding rash in the weeks following a tick bite” says Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU.  “If Lyme infection is not recognized and treated, symptoms can last from months to years and include serious health problems affecting the heart, nervous system or joints”.  Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with antibiotics.

Ticks are most active in the summer months, but can be found any time of the year when the temperature is above freezing, usually in woodlands, tall grasses and bushes.  To learn more about the presence of ticks across the five eastern counties and Ontario, check out the map of estimated risk areas for Lyme disease at www.eohu.ca/lyme.

There are measure you can take to discourage the presence of ticks around your home and to keep ticks off of you, your family and your pets.  Check out www.eohu.ca/lyme to learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from ticks and Lyme disease.

For more information about this press release, please contact Nicholas Fiscina at 613-933-1375 ext. 252.

The Township relies upon the hard work and effort of volunteers to provide a variety of services within the community.  From community members who volunteer to put on special events and festivals, to our volunteers who run recreational programming and to our volunteer firefighters who work around the clock to provide emergency services, North Stormont has a lot to be thankful for.

In order to celebrate the hard work of our volunteers, you are all invited to attend a Fun in the Sun day on Saturday June 24th, at the McIntosh Park in Berwick.  Family friendly activities and a free BBQ will be featured to thank the volunteers who make North Stormont ‘A Good Place to Grow’.

For more information please contact Amy Martin at recreation@northstormont.ca.

We look forward to seeing you on June 24th!.

Spring Cleaning? Now’s the Time to Get Rid of Unused Medications – Safely

With the warmer weather, many people are diving into spring cleaning… cupboards and yards are being cleaned up, and used books, old furniture and clothes are being given away. The Eastern Ontario Health Unit is reminding residents that it’s also a good time to clear their homes of unused, unwanted or expired medications by safely disposing of them.

Prescription or over-the-counter medications that are no longer being used can be returned to most pharmacies throughout Eastern Ontario, without charge. In the Cornwall area, medications can also be dropped anonymously into secure Medi Drop boxes around the city. The medications are collected regularly and safely destroyed.

Keeping unwanted or unused medications at home can pose risks for homeowners and the community. These risks include:

• Abuse of medications by kids or their friends to get high. A recent survey in Ontario showed that 20% of teens have taken a prescription medication to get high, and that 75% of those stole it from home.
• Accidental poisonings of young children. According to Parachute (previously Safe Kids Canada), medications are the leading cause of unintentional poisonings in children under 14.
• Home break-ins by thieves looking to get their hands on prescription drugs.

However, medications need to be disposed of safely. Flushing or pouring them down drains or throwing them in the trash is unsafe – it risks contaminating the water and harming wildlife, or inviting scavengers to find and illegally sell them.

“Clearing out your unused or expired medications and safely getting rid of them is a win-win for everyone,” says Robyn Hurtubise, Manager of Substance Misuse and Injury Prevention at the Eastern Ontario Health Unit. “It reduces the risk of harm to our kids, our community and the environment.”

Residents can contact their local pharmacy to see if they accept unused medications. Cornwall area residents can also visit www.MediDrop.ca to learn more about the Medi Drop program, what items can be deposited into the Medi Drop boxes, and the drop box locations.

For more information, contact the Eastern Ontario Health Unit at 613-933-1375 or at 1 800 267-7120. You can also visit our website at www.eohu.ca.

For more information regarding this press release, please call Karine Hébert at 613-933-1375, ext. 294.

Vous faites le grand ménage? C’est le bon temps de se débarrasser des restes de médicaments – de façon sécuritaire

Quand le temps se réchauffe, bien des gens se lancent alors dans le grand ménage du printemps… on nettoie les armoires et la cour, on donne livres, vieux meubles et vêtements dont on ne veut plus. Le Bureau de santé de l’est de l’Ontario souhaite rappeler aux résidents que c’est aussi le bon moment de débarrasser la maison des médicaments expirés que vous n’avez pas utilisés ou que vous ne voulez plus de façon sécuritaire.

Les médicaments sur ordonnance ou en vente libre qui ne sont plus utilisés peuvent être retournés dans la plupart des pharmacies dans la région de l’Est ontarien sans frais. Dans la région de Cornwall, les médicaments peuvent aussi être déposés anonymement dans des boîtes sécurisées Médi Dépôt situées dans la ville. Les médicaments sont recueillis régulièrement et détruits de façon sécuritaire.

Garder à la maison des médicaments inutilisés dont vous ne voulez plus présente certains risques pour les propriétaires et la communauté. En voici quelques-uns :

• Vos enfants ou leurs amis pourraient prendre des médicaments pour se droguer. Selon un récent sondage mené en Ontario, 20 % des adolescents ont déjà pris des médicaments sur ordonnance pour se droguer et 75 % d’entre eux ont dit les avoir volés à la maison.
• Des jeunes enfants risquent de s’empoisonner accidentellement. SelonParachute (anciennement SécuriJeunes Canada), les médicaments sont la principale cause d’empoisonnement accidentel chez les enfants de moins de 14 ans.
• Des voleurs pourraient entrer chez vous par effraction pour mettre la main sur des médicaments.

Il faut, cependant, que les médicaments soient éliminés de façon sécuritaire. Il est dangereux de les jeter dans la poubelle, l’évier ou la toilette, puisque cela risque de contaminer l’eau, de faire du tort à la faune ou d’inciter certaines personnes à fouiller les poubelles pour trouver des médicaments et les vendre illégalement.

« Mettre de l’ordre dans vos médicaments expirés ou ceux que vous ne voulez plus et en disposer de façon sécuritaire est une solution gagnante pour tout le monde », dit Robyn Hurtubise, gestionnaire, mésusage de substances et prévention des blessures au Bureau de santé de l’est de l’Ontario. « Cela diminue les risques de méfaits pour nos enfants, notre communauté et l’environnement. »

Les résidents peuvent entrer en contact avec leur pharmacie locale pour savoir si les médicaments non utilisés sont acceptés. Les résidents de la région de Cornwall peuvent aussi consulter www.medidepot.ca pour en apprendre davantage sur le programme Médi Dépot, les articles qui peuvent être déposés dans les boîtes Médi Dépôt, et l’endroit où les trouver.

Pour en savoir plus, contactez le Bureau de santé de l’est de l’Ontario au 613-933-1375 ou au 1 800 267-7120. Vous pouvez aussi consulter notre site Web à www.bseo.ca.

Pour de plus amples renseignements sur ce communiqué de presse, contactez Karine Hébert au 613-933-1375, poste 294.