C OUNTY ONNECTIONSResources/... · COUNTY CONNECTIONS – SUMMER 2015 PAGE 2. A MESSAGE FROM THE...

Published for the Council and Employees of Lanark County SUMMER 2015

Recognizing staff achievements

CAO's Message Page 2Corporate Values Page 3 Public Works Page 5Corporate Services Page 7 Health & Safety Page 8 Social Services Page 9Spirit Committee Page 12Lanark Lodge Page15 Social Notes Page 18Clerk's Services Page 19Focus on Fitness Page 20Work-Life Balance Page 22Service Awards Page 23

IN THIS ISSUE:

A Message from the Warden

By Keith Kerr

Continued on Page 4

HATS OFF – OR ON – FOR SUMMER! The Spirit Committee honoured the arrival of warm weather and the start of baseball season with Baseball Cap Day. See more Spirit Committee news starting on Page 12.

C OUNTYONNECTIONS

I have been on County Council for more than 20 years, and it is an honour and a privilege to have the opportunity to serve as Warden for 2015. It has been made possible due to the support of my wonderful wife Margaret, my Council colleagues and the Tay Valley Township staff. Thank you! As Warden, I believe it is very important to listen. The people we serve are understanding, intelligent and respectful, so even when we make decisions they do not like I look for the

opportunity to have constructive chats. I have never met anyone I could not talk to. I feel strongly about the importance of public service, and I know our County staff work hard to make Lanark County a better place to live, work and play. This was demonstrated at the Service Awards Luncheon on June 11, when employees were recognized for years of service and their dedication to the people of Lanark County. Thank you for everything you do. I think we have the best staff in the

province, and you make it easy for Council to do what we do. Many of the highlights of this year so far involve the work of our staff. On April 22, the Public Works Department hosted the annual Truck Roadeo and I was pleased to present one of our own, Jason Varcoe, with the winning plaque. This event was a great opportunity for municipal equipment operators to showcase their skills. Another highlight was Walk the Block, the fundraiser for

We're always looking for photos! Send them any time to

the contacts on Page 2.

COUNTY CONNECTIONS – SUMMER 2015 PAGE 2

A MESSAGE FROM THE CAO

By Kurt GreavesBig Thanks, Big Projects and Big Birthdays

It is always nice to write this summer article right after the annual Service Awards. Congratulations to everyone who received their much deserved recognition. Special mention to Susan Barr, Susan Coutts, Tracy Deforge and Dale Smith for their 30 years of service to the people of Lanark County. An especially special mention to Mary Lou White for her 35 years of leadership and community support. The best part of this position is thanking all of you for dedicating a large part of your life to helping make our community a great place to live! It seems 2015 is an extra big year with lots of big projects in the works. The new public works garage is finally being built next to the public works administration building. Together with the salt and sand dome and equipment storage dome, the landscape at 99 Christie Lake Rd. is rapidly changing. Everyone is looking forward to having more of our public works staff operating out of this address. The renovations to the County’s Union Hall facility are nearly complete. These projects have the County well set up to service the public for the next 50 years. The Lanark County Paramedic Service is also getting a new paramedic base built in Smiths Falls. This will replace the current site on Maple Street that is no longer big enough. The new base will also house the Paramedic Chief and administrative staff. Our paramedics do an amazing job providing excellent service to our region. Energy is always a big theme and we are working hard on several initiatives. Lanark Lodge recently added two new state-of-the-art 99-per cent efficient hot water boilers that will provide years of service while reducing the consumption of natural gas. Lanark County is working with the local municipalities to submit applications for up to 17 solar projects. These are medium-sized projects of 2 to 5 acres each with the goal of securing Hydro One contracts to provide revenue for the taxpayers of Lanark County to offset tax increases. We are also working with other municipalities across eastern Ontario and with Enbridge Gas to increase access to natural gas,

which will help boost our local economy. Lanark County, together with Renfrew County and the Township of Papineau-Cameron, continues to negotiate with CP Rail on the potential purchase of the 185-mile abandoned rail line from Smiths Falls to Mattawa. This corridor has the potential of becoming an amazing multi-purpose trail to get everyone out exploring our wonderful home. Next year, 2016, marks the 200th anniversary of the Perth Military Settlement. The areas currently known as Beckwith, Drummond/North Elmsley, Tay Valley and Perth will be celebrating their bicentennial. Lanark County is also having a big birthday: 2016 will mark the 150th anniversary of our charter from the Province as a stand-alone county. Prior to 1866 Lanark was amalgamated with Renfrew County. A final note on health and safety: In 2014 we once again had zero lost days. This is four out of the last five years without a lost-time accident. This amazing feat is thanks to everyone for your commitment to safety; special thanks to our Health and Safety committee members. Enjoy a super safe summer!

is published semi-annually by Lanark County to inform our employees about

county initiatives for which we are responsible and employee activities where

we had some fun at work.

Striving to build unity through communication.

COUNTY CONNECTIONS

If you have any questions or comments we would like to hear from you. You can reach us by contacting: Susan Truelove: E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 1-888-9LANARK, ext. 1102 Stephanie Gray: E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 613-264-0447


By Anne Emery, Chair Following the publication of the Community Vision and Corporate Strategic Plan, the Corporate Values Committee was formed and tasked with developing a collaborative and comprehensive set of Corporate Values as well as a Code of Conduct for employees. The committee is inter-organizational with representation from union and non-union employees. An Employee Satisfaction Survey was developed by the committee. Each year attendees of the Annual Service Awards Luncheon are invited to complete the survey to give employees the opportunity to express their opinion in a confidential forum. The results are compiled and provided to the Executive Management Team in order that suggestions can be considered and in some instances changes or improvements implemented. The “Nominate an Employee” contest continues to run, whereby County employees are encouraged to submit stories about co-workers who demonstrate our Corporate Values. Three draws will take place over the course of the year to award a $50 gift card to a nominated employee. Diane Pearen was our first 2015 draw winner! She was nominated by several of her co-workers for demonstrating ALL of the Corporate Values. Congratulations Di! All of the submitted stories will be posted at the Corporate Values information table at the

CORPORATE VALUES COMMITTEE

upcoming Staff Appreciation Barbecue being held on Wednesday, Sept. 23. Be sure to stop by for a chance to win a prize. Winning Submission: Dear Diane, In our professional lives, we cannot deny the importance of our coworkers. It is because of wonderful coworkers like you that our workplace is a calm, fun, enjoyable and even tasty place to be! We do not always show you how grateful we are to have you as a member of our work family; you are a true inspiration to us all. We hope that this short letter will display how you inspire us each and every day and how truly blessed we are to work with you. Respect – You have an astounding level of respect for everyone you meet. You would treat the Prime Minister with the same level of respect and

value as the homeless boy who shows up at our office door. This is a quality that very few people in the world have; you may be the only individual we know who has this very special attribute. Honesty – Diane, we only aspire to attend to sensitive and personal issues with clients with the same grace and dignity as you. You have a gift of addressing clients with sincerity and honesty far more advanced than many people. Because of this, your clients develop a very high level of admiration for you leading to many positive outcomes; I imagine as you’re reading this your humbling yourself and not believing us, but we know how great you truly are. Positive Attitude – Diane, every day you walk into the office with a smile on your face. Many times we are

Continued on Page 4


CORPORATE VALUES COMMITTEEContinued from Page 3complaining about something, usually SAMS, but you always see the light at the end of the tunnel. You consistently turn negative situations into a positive learning experience. You continually bring out the best in our most challenging clients. Collaboration – You are a wealth of knowledge and always willing to share. You are not only committed to knowing about local resources but you are also connected to them. We can go to you at any time and you are more than willing to collaboratively solve client problems with us. You continually have an abundance of suggestions for complex cases and repeatedly volunteer to tap into your multiple resources. Perhaps you are like a compassionate and connected Google… caring, resourceful and knowledgeable! Accountability – Your commitment to our community and your clients is remarkable. Excitement of a proud parent radiates from you when one of our clients graduates high school. Your dedication and support to improving the education levels of some of our most vulnerable citizens is unbelievable. Your regular visits to the school, follow-up on student attendance and outcomes and dedication to attending the graduation is incomparable. We have no doubt this devotion to our clients increases their commitment and loyalty to school.

Communication – Diane, the epitome of a calm communicator. Clients can be yelling, swearing and jumping up and down with frustration but both your verbal and nonverbal communication remains calm and collected; a special skill that many of us struggle with on a regular basis. Your ability to remain so relaxed and peaceful clearly emulates to the fortunate clients you serve. Teamwork – You contribute to such a healthy work environment at our Smiths Falls office, with your daily coffee making, snack contributions and pot luck organizing. (However, the pot lucks have evolved into you cooking for us (since what you make always tastes best), perhaps the rest of us are failing at teamwork!) It is because of your positive spirit and promotion of a team environment that we leave work smiling. You are a very special person, who we are continually in awe of. We only hope that you understand the very positive impact you make in the lives of so many people; and for this, we thank you. Love, "us" (Emily, Heather J, Shelly, Yvonne and Tracey)

A MESSAGE FROM THE WARDENContinued from Page 1the Canadian Cancer Society that is co-hosted by Lanark Lodge, Perth Community Care Centre and Lanark County. It is a wonderful event that encourages participation by staff at all three facilities, along with long-term care residents and families. This cause is important to me personally, and I was honoured to bring greetings as Warden and to Walk the Block with survivors and other participants. Congratulations, everyone, on the success of this event. Health & Safety Week in May showcased the great efforts of our staff to keep Lanark County a healthy and safe place to work. Again, congratulations go out to our staff for their hard

work on maintaining our excellent safety record. The Warden’s Golf Tournament – another event organized by our staff – is coming up on Aug. 14, with proceeds going to our local hospitals and the United Way of Lanark County. If you haven’t signed up for this annual fundraising event, please register online or contact Erica at ext. 1505. I’m also looking forward to another great Harvest Festival, which this year will be co-hosted by Tay Valley Township. Don’t miss this annual event, which takes place Sept. 13 at the Beckwith Recreation Complex. I wish everyone a safe and fun summer and look forward to working with you for the remainder of my term as Warden.


PUBLIC WORKS

EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT COMMITTEE The Public Works Department, at its general staff meeting in May, elected members for the Employee Involvement Committee (EIC). The committee meets once a month from March until November and brings forward group ideas to be considered for enhancing the department's workplace environment.

CONSTRUCTION: County Road 8 resurfacing.

NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY The new facility is well underway and on schedule for completion in early September. Footings and sub walls are completed; some outside walls and steel support structures are in place. Below-floor plumbing is being placed and site works are 70 per cent complete. The erection of two coverall structures, one for winter material storage and one for equipment storage, has begun and is scheduled for completion in early August.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION Construction on County Road 8 (Herron Mills Road), County Road 22 (Shaw Road) and County Road 24 (Bellamy Road and 4th Concession Pakenham) are completed. Culvert replacements on various roads are 70 per cent complete. Every week another project commences – another busy construction season in Lanark County.

OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT Maintenance Operations staff are working on the summer maintenance program and assisting when required with the new facility project. Although summer maintenance is more scheduled than winter, incidents arise unexpectedly and crews must respond regardless

Membership is composed of:Garry Switzer – Union Hall Equipment OperatorsSteve Herns – Perth Equipment OperatorsCharlie Quinn – Patrollers and MechanicsDoug Bowes – Construction and Office StaffJonathan Allen – Elected at Large

The Mississippi River Bridge, located on Highway 511, has been reopened for two lanes of traffic. Beam Construction will be commencing the auxiliary structure, to be used by alternative transportation such as snowmobiles, bikes and ATVs, with a scheduled completion during October. A grant for a portion of the project has been secured from the National Trails Coalition.

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PUBLIC WORKS

FLEET AND EQUIPMENT The new tractor with boom-mounted brushing machine has arrived and staff is already actively working with the unit cutting weeds and brush around bridges, guiderails and alongside the road. A new tandem snow plow unit/flusher truck is expected to be delivered by mid-July. This unit will be used year round. In summer it will be used for washing intersections and bridges and removing winter sand and gravel from the roadways. The unit will also be utilized to assist with shoulder grading. During the winter the unit will be used for winter maintenance operations. Public Works will be disposing of several surplus items starting in late June. If interested in what we have for sale visit www.govdeals.com/lanarkcountyon to view a list of assets for sale.

Continued from Page 5

of time of day. Crews had to tackle a huge road washout on County Road 12 (Pinegrove Road) during the early hours of June 12. At approximately 1 a.m., a beaver pond let go north of Giles Road, which caused the washout to occur on half of one lane of County Road 12 for approximately 200 metres. County staff, in conjunction with contractors, worked diligently and had the road reopened to traffic by 3 p.m. the same day.

NEW HIRES

Clayton Hanna, Road

Maintenance Student

(Union Hall)

Daniel Nolan, Road

Maintenance Student

(Union Hall)

Taylor Hall, Civil

Engineering Technologist

Student

Evan Noonan,

Road Maintenance

Student (Perth)

Matthew Congreves,

Road Maintenance

Student (Perth)

Hanah White, Road

Maintenance Student

(Union Hall)

Michael Stewart,

Road Maintenance

Student (Perth)

Michel Villeneuve,

Road Maintenance

Student (Union Hall)

Lindsay Scott, Road

Maintenance Student (Perth)

Brady Rodgers,

Civil Engineering Technologist

Student


FINANCE The Spirit Committee once again hosted Hockey Playoff Pool as Lanark County staff are passionate about hockey! Finance staff volunteered to track the money and statistics. They reported that 45 people participated for a pot of $225. Steve McIntosh (below) was the first place winner and earned himself 75 per cent of the pot. Congrats, Steve!

INTERNAL CORPORATE SERVICES

WHERE THE COOL KIDS ARE: Joan Pratt increases the cool factor in Finance; wearing shades to work while recuperating from laser eye surgery.

HUMAN RESOURCES The Human Resources Department hosted the annual services awards luncheon at the Perth Golf Course on June 11. We celebrated the long-service achievements of 50 of your co-workers, ranging from 5 to 35 years. Collectively they have worked for Lanark County for more than 700 years! See pages 23 and 24 for photos and details of the event.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY In I.T. we are currently recruiting for a Junior IT Support position. Thank you for your patience while we have been short staffed. Hopefully we will be back to a full staffing complement by the end of July. Our mail server upgrade was delayed, but should be completed by the end of the summer. We are very busy with many server and system upgrades this year that are not necessarily visible

to users, but are critical for continued reliable operations. Please continue to send all support requests to [email protected] or call 613-464-9988.

Angie Clark,Human

Resources Student

Andrew Donaldson,

Tourism Student

NEW HIRES

JEANS AND FAVOURITE TEAM JERSEY DAY: Above, LCAB staff decked out to support injured Smiths Falls hockey player Neil Doef.


HEALTH & SAFETYHEALTH & SAFETY WEEK “Make Safety a Habit for Your Career!” was the theme for this year's Health & Safety Week, held May 4 to 8. The week of activities began with flag raisings at the Lodge and the Administration Building, along with “Come Break With Us” at both locations. On Thursday the annual Health & Safety Week Luncheon took place at the Lodge, along with the annual Health & Safety Trade Show for County employees. Thanks to all the participating vendors! A special thanks to CAO Kurt Greaves and Warden Keith Kerr who, on behalf of County Council, handed out appreciation gifts this year that included the Rock-It 3.0 (a vibration speaker/amplifier) and a fleece blanket with the County

logo on it. Each day featured a daily draw for gift certificates, and there were several door prize winners at the trade show. Throughout the week daily walking was promoted in an effort to boost activity levels. Staff who registered five walks within the week were eligible to win a $100 gift certificate from The Running Goat. This year the walking passport had a record number of entries, with lots of people walking! The winner of the draw for the walking passport was Kathy Thayer. The week was a huge success and thanks go out to all staff who continue to show commitment toward workplace health and safety and continue to work safely!

HEALTH & SAFETY WEEK: Top and middle photos: Flag raising and Come Break With Us at Administration building. Below: flag raising and Come Break With Us at Lanark Lodge.


SOCIAL SERVICES#HOMES4LANARK Lanark County Social Housing has launched a social media campaign intended to create a picture of what housing and homelessness looks like to the people of Lanark County. The campaign commenced on May 1 and will wrap up on October 1. Homelessness and unstable housing reduces people’s sense of dignity, erodes community and costs us in terms of health care, policing and other public services. The County’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan outlines our need to create an accurate local representation of homelessness realities while simultaneously demystifying homelessness and decreasing the stigma around social housing. Lanark County has set a priority of ending homelessness in our community. Through creative avenues, such as social media, we will broadcast our need for safe and healthy homes in order to build strong local communities.

CIH – CANADA CONNECTION FEATURES MEMBER PROFILE ON EMILY HOLLINGTON (Article excerpt.) For the past five years Emily Hollington has been a Social Housing Caseworker for Lanark County in Ontario. In December 2014, Emily became CIH Canada’s first Certified Housing Professional by completing Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Canada’s Challenge Program. We recently had an opportunity to ask her a few questions about her experience. Why did you decide to pursue your Certified Housing Professional accreditation? My manager told me about the program, thinking it would be a good opportunity for me to

How to Participate in #Homes4Lanark1. Write down what home

means to you. Take a picture of you holding your sign.

2. Post your picture to social media with the hashtag #Homes4Lanark or e-mail your picture to [email protected] to be posted on the Lanark County Facebook and Twitter sites.

3. If you would like to participate, but require assistance with the technology, contact 613-267-4200 ext. 2402 or

1-888-952-6275. For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Social Housing Caseworker, at 613-267-4200 ext. 2403 or [email protected].

grow professionally. I was interested because I have on-the-ground experience and knowledge, but lack formal education specific to housing. I am passionate about housing and believe that CIH Canada will help professionalize the sector. How do you think the program will help you now and in the future? The course content is very relevant to my current position. It’s helped me evaluate my current work and explore best practices in other jurisdictions. For the future, I think the CIH Canada accreditation will demonstrate my commitment to housing and broaden my future

Continued on Page 10


SOCIAL SERVICES

career prospects. I also plan to take advantage of CIH Canada membership resources, such as webinars, networking and newsletters.Was your employer supportive of your decision to take the program? My direct manager was exceptionally supportive. While I was working on the assignments she was very helpful and directed me toward resources I needed, such as MMAH publications and financial information. You completed your requirements very quickly. How did you manage this? I finished the program in about six months. Admittedly, it was difficult to find time – I am a working mother and was also taking Institute of Housing Management (IHM) courses. I had to be disciplined and set aside dedicated time for the coursework to ensure I stayed

on task. But CIH Canada also had built-in supports to help me move through the program quickly. They recognized an IHM course I had completed earlier as an exemption. Our tutor was really helpful and checked in regularly. The assignments also built upon one another, so while doing research for one assignment, I would find articles and research that would support the next assignment. Would you recommend CIH Canada’s educational programs to others? If so why? Absolutely! Housing is a complex field. The program gave me a better understanding of the complete housing system, not just the landlord responsibility, which I think sets it apart from other housing courses. This experience has really inspired me to look at innovative ways to improve the local housing sector.

NEW HIRES

Kelli Bell, Social Services

Clerk

Kassandra Wilkinson, Social Services

Student

Stephanie Laming, Social Services

Student


EMILY HOLLINGTON


CHILDREN’S SERVICES Many of you have heard there are changes coming with regards to licensed child care: a replacement of the current Day Nurseries Act with the new Early Learning and Child Care Act effective August 31, 2015. Many of the new provisions will strengthen compliance and health and safety in child care settings, and help parents make informed choices about their options. Many of the provisions that existed under the regulations under the Day Nurseries Act are unchanged and will be carried forward under the Early Learning and Child Care Act.The Act will apply to: • Unlicensed child care • Home child care providers contracted by a

licensed agency• Licensed home child care agencies• Licensed child care centres. The following are some examples of who is exempt from the Act:• Nannies or babysitters who provide care to

children in the children’s home• Care by relatives• Camps that only care for children aged 4 and

over• Programs with a primary purpose of academic

or skill-based recreation • Private schools that only care for children aged

4 and overWhat are licensing standards for ratios in licensed child care centres? (See chart.)

SOCIAL SERVICES

When do the new rules come in effect? The new rules will come into effect on August 31, 2015. However, the following two rules for unlicensed providers will not apply until January 1, 2016: 1. Providers must

count their own children under the age of 6*

2. Providers can only care for a maximum of 2

children under the age of 2*. The following rule will not apply until August 31, 2017:1. Providers must include 10, 11 and 12 year olds

in the total count of children they care for.* These exceptions only apply to children who were already being cared for by the provider on December 4, 2014. For example, if a provider was caring for three 1-year-old children on December 4, 2014, they can continue to care for those children until January 1, 2016.What happens if someone doesn’t follow the rules? • Contraventions of the Act and its regulations

could lead to administrative penalties, and/or convictions that could include fines

• The Ministry of Education will typically take progressive measures, such as compliance orders, as appropriate, before issuing a penalty

• Administrative penalties would increase based on the length of the violation, and previous violations

• If a provider has more than the permitted number of children in care, the penalty would start at $2,000 per child per day

• In addition to financial penalties, the ministry will post on their website when a child care provider has been issued a compliance order, administrative penalty, protection order and/or restraining order.

For Further information see the Ministry of Education website: https://www.edu.gov.on.ca.


SPIRIT COMMITTEEBy Susan Truelove Here we are again...halfway through another calendar year. Incredible! The Spirit Committee hopes that each of you is having an awesome 2015. Once again, I’m happy to provide an overview/brief summary of the events that the Spirit Committee have planned/coordinated to date this year. Lanark County staff are extremely lucky to have the option of participating in the Weight Watchers at Work program every Thursday over the noon hour. Those who joined the session that began Jan. 15 recently completed the 20-week program and are looking amazing. A 10-week session began June 11 and will run until Aug. 13...many pounds continue to be shed by Lanark County staff and participants are feeling great! A Jeans and Favourite Team Jersey Day was held at the LCAB on Jan. 29 and at Lanark Lodge on Jan. 30 to support injured Smiths Falls Hockey Player Neil Doef. Staff wearing their team jerseys donated $2 each. Also on the afternoon of Jan. 29 we were lucky to have the awesome popcorn-making machine from LL available at the LCAB and provided bags of freshly popped flavoured popcorn for $2 per bag, also being donated towards the Neil Doef fundraiser. The LCAB raised $148.20 and LL raised another $200.40 towards this fundraiser. The Municipal Hockey League (MHL) continued again over the winter/spring season RED AND WHITE: Staff decked out for Valentine's Day.

on every second Monday at 5 p.m. at the arena in Perth, ending March 23 for the season. Perhaps we can look forward to a third hockey season of the MHL this Fall! The Spirit Committee has been able to provide some healthy snack options in the LCAB lunchroom for $1 paid on the honour system. Staff seem to enjoy having the healthy options available when they need a little snack to tide them over until mealtime. On Friday, Feb. 13, Lanark County staff dressed in red and white for Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s candy was provided

that day as well. The LCAB staff joined in on a couple of Lanark Lodge’s February Heart & Stroke Campaign fundraisers in an effort to raise awareness and funds for heart disease and stroke research. We joined in on the chance to win two hockey tickets to the March 6 NHL hockey game, Ottawa Senators vs. Buffalo Sabres, including a parking pass and a $75 gift card for supper. The raffle tickets cost $2 each, or 3 tickets for $5. The draw was held Feb. 27 and Haley Waldeck of the Dietary Department in Lanark Lodge was the lucky winner.

JEANS AND FAVOURITE TEAM JERSEY DAY: Above, Lanark Lodge staff. LCAB staff can be seen on Page 7.



SPIRIT COMMITTEEStaff were also invited to attend the Heart Tea and Bake Sale held in the front lobby of Lanark Lodge on Feb. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A grand total of $800 was raised for Heart & Stroke in Lanark Lodge’s February initiatives. Shrove Tuesday occurred on Feb. 17 and for a nominal fee of $5 per person, staff were able to enjoy pancakes, sausages and fresh fruit any time between 10 and 11 a.m. in the LCAB Lunch Room. On March 16, the Spirit Committee ensured that nice flowers welcomed Social Services Perth staff returning to their workstations on the lower level of the LCAB after being uprooted for the couple previous weeks due to flooding that occurred from a broken pipe on March 1. On March 17, staff dressed in green again this year for St. Patrick’s Day. T25 Sessions started again on March 23 and continue to occur sporadically for staff who wish to participate, either during their lunch hours or after work in the Council Chambers. The Hockey Pool was a great success again this Spring for the NHL hockey playoffs that began April 15. Each participant put $5 into the pot, with the winner to take 75 per cent and second place taking 25 per cent. Updates were provided after each round. Congrats to Steve McIntosh of the Social Services Department on winning $168.75, with second place being captured by Maverick Pretty, Sam Leroux’s son, who captured

$56.25. On April 2 at 2 p.m. the results were tallied and Terri Jordan (below) of the Social Services Department was announced the winner of the Easter Egg Guessing Contest, making the closest guess to the exact number of Easter treats in the lantern. She was only off by four! A new twist this year was if the exact number of Easter treats had been guessed, a $50 gift certificate to the winner’s choice would have been provided.

In honour of the warm weather finally arriving and the start of baseball season, the Spirit Committee chose April 17 as Baseball Cap Day (see photo page 1). Throwback Thursday photos can be seen on the Spirit Committee Notice Board in the LCAB lunchroom. Childhood photos of current staff randomly appear Thursdays, and over break time and lunch hours, it has been fun to look at the photos, trying to determine which staff member it is. Potluck Lunches (see photo next page) are always a great time here at Lanark County, and once again staff put some of our favourite food items together and gathered in the LCAB Lunch Room over the lunch hour on April 21 to enjoy the homemade cooking. It also happened to be Kurt’s birthday, so that was an additional bonus. Health & Safety Week (May 4 to 8) and the 2nd Annual Walk the Block event (June 4)both recognized very important issues while creating an atmos-

WEARIN' O' THE GREEN: In spirit for St. Patrick's Day.


SPIRIT COMMITTEE

phere of spirit at the same time. June 18th was the 8th annual ball hockey and staff barbecue held in the parking lot at the rear of the LCAB. Cheers to the White Team, which won the closely fought game, led by "Breakway Kurt," who scored the winning goal of the 4-3 game. Have a super summer and an excellent year everyone!


BALL HOCKEY: Above, the Red and White teams pose after the game. Left, action shot! Below, Mary Kirkham works the grill (left) while players line up for hamburgers and hot dogs and enjoy the delicious lunch together.


LANARK LODGELANARK LODGE STAFF SUPPORTING RESIDENT CREATIVITY The programming staff at Lanark Lodge worked in concert with an art therapist, Andrea Fabricius, to coordinate the attendance of residents at a weekly art therapy program over eight weeks. The residents were supported to tap into their creativity; in some instances residents who would not be able to interact and be involved in most activities could channel their energy into creating pieces that would form a collage to adorn our wall. Lanark Lodge values “leading the way” and with the involvement of staff we have been able to involve residents in initiatives that allowed them to contribute to a work of art. To celebrate we also held a wine and cheese to recognize our artists.

SUPPORTING CREATIVITY: Art collage created by the residents at Lanark Lodge, Spring 2015.

STAFF PAST-TIMES ENHANCE OUR LONG-TERM CARE HOME Glenna Churchill, Director of Care, not only has skill managing the nursing department at Lanark Lodge, but she brings her skills as a quilter to the home. Glenna indicates being involved in crafts is how she relaxes, and we are most fortunate that she has shared this talent with us. Her first gift to the Lodge was the large poppy quilt (see photo to right) that is a tribute to the veterans at Lanark Lodge; it hangs proudly in the Norm Ferrier Room. In addition, recently Glenna has taken on the challenge of creating “busy” quilts for residents; these quilts have all kinds of textures and things to keep resident’s hands busy and are large enough

to cover their laps. We are very fortunate Glenna has shared her passion for crafting with us – thank you so much!

SHROVE TUESDAY Lanark Lodge celebrated Shrove Tuesday. Staff were treated to pancakes cooked by the managers of the home along with all of the fixings, including sausage, fruit, juice, coffee and, of course, real maple syrup. We are in Lanark County, after all, and how wonderful it is to enjoy one of our sweet treasures! Above, Heath Bittle helping himself to the Shrove Tuesday buffet!

LANARK LODGE STAFF HAVE LOTS OF HEART! For the past few years at Lanark Lodge, February means it is time for us to coordinate our fundraising initiatives to support the Heart & Stroke Foundation. So…we got into the spirit and turned our energies to some great initiatives, including a bake sale, a draw for hockey tickets



LANARK LODGE

with parking (kindly donated by staff member Tammy Ramsey and her significant other) and a dinner gift card, sale of our window hearts, dress downs and a tremendously successful bake sale. We raised $800. Staff also got into the spirit with our “Go Red” initiative for Valentine’s Day – what a great looking bunch! Heart disease affects one in three individuals and we were proud to be able to support this initiative.

HAIRCUTS FOR CANCER At our Walk the Block Relay, Linda Nagle took the plunge and cut her locks for cancer….not only did she fundraise for the walk part of this relay but she also made the contribution of her hair. A hairdresser, Krista from Classy Cuts joined the event to cut Linda’s hair. Hats were borrowed from the audience with $100 collected on the spot towards her fundraising efforts. Way to go Linda – your hair will make the world of difference for someone battling cancer! We are very proud of you!

Donna Coutts,Cook

Heather Armstrong, Registered

Nurse

Buffy Armour,Receptionist/

Clerical Assistant

Angela Wilson,

Registered Practical Nurse

Cassandra Wehrle,

Registered Practical Nurse

Sally Somerville, Health Care

Aide

NEW HIRES



LANARK LODGEWALK THE BLOCK SURPASSES $7,500! Once again we made it happen…Lanark Lodge partnered with Perth Community Care Centre and Lanark County to hold their second annual “Walk the Block” event to raise monies for cancer research. There are moments that resonate with each of us; this year’s walk offered many of those moments. Our relay, “Walk the Block,” is to remember loved ones lost, to support those who are currently fighting cancer and to recognize those who have fought the fight and won! We did so in lighting more than 200 luminaries…each of those bags with a special name on it and people who care for them. Events like this only occur through enthusiasm of a dedicated group of staff and great community support. Our community partners really stepped in this year through the donation of the stage, public works assistance with moving the stage and our ghastly heavy picnic tables – thanks to the students! In addition, Kevin Carnrite came through again and was able to coordinate a lineup of musicians who generously donated their time. Staff worked tirelessly to collaborate with the cancer society, create pins and the illuminated stand with relay

messages, and write out and prepare the luminary bags. Linda Nagle and Kevin Carnrite both brought students to assist us to work with our programming staff to allow residents to come out and enjoy the festivities. Staff volunteered time to barbecue or gave their hands and time with the Lanark Lodge managers helping to

set up and pitch in where asked to assist! We had more than 80 walkers, lit over 200 luminaries and surpassed our $5,000 goal! A huge “shout out” to our organizers, participants and incredible volunteer performers…what an incredible ten hours. We are making a difference! (See more photos on Page 18.)

WALK THE BLOCK SUPERHEROES! Top right, from left: Maxine Topping, Donna Hart-Desjardins, Stacey Horne, Lindsay Mahon. Middle, left: Open remarks by Lanark Lodge Director Deborah Pidgeon with musician Riq Turner. Middle right, from left: Superheroes Linda Nagle, Lori Roberts, Meghan Nagle, Jen McParland.Bottom left: Luminary lighting. Bottom right, from left: NY Theme with Cynthia Barr, Bonnie Hansen, Brett and Cara Whiten, Kathleen Wilmott.


LANARK LODGE

SOCIAL NOTES

GOT A SOCIAL NOTE?In addition to departmental highlights, there is always exciting personal news to share with co-workers. Submit info and photos about weddings, births and special activities for the "Social Notes" page to [email protected].

A COORDINATED ENTRANCE: Heather Kehoe (Social Services) and husband Tom are the proud grandparents of two granddaughters both born Feb. 17. Heather says her girls have always liked to do things together, "but this was crazy!" Farrah Anne Coutts (right) was planned on Feb. 17 and was 7lbs.,14 oz. Big Brother Nash, who is four, was not thrilled that they brought her home from the hospital, but thought it was cool that she bought him a new train to add to his collection.

Charley Brooke Derouin (left) was seven weeks early and weighed 5 lbs., 4 oz. She was in hospital for a few weeks before heading to her new home in Sydenham. Congrats!

WALK THE BLOCK 2015


CLERK'S SERVICESWARDEN’S ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Tee up for a great cause! It’s not too late to register for the annual Lanark County Warden’s Golf Tournament, to be held this year on Friday, Aug. 14 at Maple View Golf & Country Club. Proceeds will support the local hospitals and the United Way of Lanark County. Generous donors are the key to the tournament’s success and make it possible for these organizations to provide local individuals and families in need with assistance and critical services. Register online by visiting www.lanarkcounty.ca. Questions? Contact Erica Patterson at 613-267-4200 ext. 1505. Hole sponsorships and donations are welcome! Over the years the tournament has raised thousands of dollars for local organizations – keep the (golf) ball rolling!

WELCOME ANDREW! The Clerk's Department is very pleased to welcome Andrew Donaldson as the Special Projects Tourism Clerk (summer student position). Andrew attended Stanstead College in Quebec from 2012-2014, where he served as Captain of both the Stanstead College Varsity Boys Hockey Team and Softball Team. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Human Geography Winner and the French Award (highest marks in graduation class), the Davis House Award (most outstanding Sr. Boys’ resident), the Inaugural Graham Chandler Award Winner (student-athlete who best exemplifies character, integrity and sportsmanship); and most importantly was the first student in Stanstead College history to be awarded the International AP Scholar Award for Academic Excellence. In the fall of 2014, Andrew received an academic scholarship and commenced his studies at Acadia University in Nova Scotia pursuing an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration with a minor in French. While maintaining a 4.0 Grade Point Average, he is also a member of the Sackville Blazers Junior B Hockey Team. Andrew

is fluent in both official languages (English/French) and within a few short weeks has proven his professional work ethic, leadership abilities, organization and time management skills and is a true asset to the Lanark County Clerk’s Department.

GEARING UP FOR 200TH ANNIVERSARIES Several local municipalities in Lanark County are gearing up for a major milestone in 2016 – their 200th anniversary! The year 1816 marked the establishment of the Perth Military Settlement, made up by what is now Beckwith, Drummond/North Elmsley, Perth and Tay Valley. The aim of the celebrations is to honour our history and our forbears and to celebrate their many accomplishments, which have enabled us to grow into the outstanding communities we have today. Lanark County Tourism is working with committees in each of the municipalities and they are working together to create a remarkable 200th anniversary celebration. More than 200 events are in the works for 2016, as well as legacy projects and commorative souvenires, including a beautiful 200th anniversary calendar. For more information, be sure to check www.2016.lanarkcountytourism.ca.

JEANS & JERSEY DAY IN SUPPORT OF DOEFSTRONG: From left, Joanne Plontz, Marie White, Rick Hannah, Leslie Drynan, Erica Patterson.


CLERK'S SERVICESHARVEST FESTIVAL Staff have been busy getting ready for the third annual Lanark County Harvest Festival, which is set to go Sunday, Sept. 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Beckwith Park. The event features local producers, food seminars, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, local musicians and more. This year, Tay Valley Township will be the featured community, showcasing its people, products and projects. The festival is a collaboration of local farmers' markets and groups that are passionate about local food. Lanark County chefs Roger Weldon and Stan Dueck will be on hand, along with the renowned Bowes Brothers as the musical entertainment and lots of kids' activities. The popular "Harvest Church Supper" continues this year, featuring traditional lamb, vegetable, beef and gluten-

If you know someone who should be recognized for dedication and commitment to health and wellness, e-mail Marilyn Allen at [email protected]. Congratulations to a group of Lanark County employees who have achieved a big weight loss milestone! A group of 13 participants took part in the Weight Watchers at Work program for 20 weeks starting Jan. 15, and the group lost a total of 195 lbs.! A new 10-week program

began on June 11, and in the first week that group lost 22 lbs. Weight Watchers is a weight-loss program that helps participants to track the food they eat in order to encourage healthy eating habits, including portion sizes. It also rewards activity, making fitness an incentive that ties naturally to weight loss. The new 10-week session meets every Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. The participants eat lunch together and the group leader, Sue Matte,

always has a helpful topic to share. Participants describe it as a great place for support and to exchange recipes and tricks to get the most benefit from the program. Some of the participants from the previous session are carrying on in the new group and are working to inspire others. Staff members can join at any time during a session. Sue runs Weight Watchers meetings in Perth and Smiths Falls, and also for the employees at Commonwell

FOCUS ON FITNESS

free stews, as well as pie of all kinds! Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door for the

supper, which takes place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Don't miss it!


FOCUS ON FITNESSMutual Insurance Group in Perth. She says other companies are starting to show interest as well. Participants say they enjoy the program because it's easy and they learn to avoid eating certain things. Susan Truelove, Executive Assistant to the Warden and CAO, was featured in this newsletter previously as a successful participant in the Weight Watchers program, and she has inspired many others to try it. "As Susan Truelove says, it's like taking a test and being given the answers beforehand," said Anne Emery, one of the current participants. At the first meeting of the new session on June 11, Susan told the new participants about her experiences with the program. She started in June 2013 on her doctor's advice and lost more than 50 lbs. by December. "I've learned Weight Watchers is not a diet, it's a lifestyle change and is therefore forever - every day," Susan says. "Weight Watchers is all about balancing food, drink and exercise." Susan encourages participants to find an exercise they like and to do it every day. "It's many little tiny things that you do that add up to a great big difference; the big difference being the way that you feel - healthy." She reinforces the fact tracking what you eat is an important part of Weight Watchers and helps participants to find the discipline they need. Indeed, many participants are

excited about earning points for fitness and activity. Among the things that inspired some staff members to start the program was the desire to fit into clothes hanging in the closet. Like any lifestyle change, it's not without its ups and downs. "You have to learn along the way," explains Sue Matte. "Even gaining weight is part of the learning process. You get the practice of how to get back on track." Anne added it's important to stick with it every week. "If you slip up, forgive yourself

and start fresh the next day. Tomorrow's a new day." The theme for the meetings in June was to to be happy. "If we're happy as we're losing weight, we have a tendency to make better decisions," Sue explains. Sue also encourages participants to consider meditation and to take a couple of minutes to be mindful and practice breathing. Congrats to everyone taking part in this exciting program, and good luck on your life-changing, weight-loss adventure!

STAYING ON TRACK: Participants from the Weight Watchers sessions held so far in 2015 above, and below, during a meeting with leader Sue Matte.


WORK-LIFE BALANCE Know someone who should be recognized for his or her hobbies or for giving back to the community in his or her spare time? Please e-mail Susan Truelove at [email protected] with your suggestions! Like so many, Kathy Thayer is a busy person trying to balance work, home and hobbies. Fortunately, Achin’ Back Acres helps. The Ontario Works Clerk is in her 11th year in social services at Lanark County. “There are great aspects to being at Lanark County,” she says. “You can be diverse in your job when you work in a small community.” As an example, she points to the role of social services staff during the Red Lake evacuation to the Gallipeau Centre. “You can’t be bored in this job.” Kathy finds comfort in a fairly new endeavour taken on with her partner Matt. “Achin’ Back Acres is where we try to grow great garlic.” It all started about six years ago when they went to the Perth Garlic Festival and brought home a garlic starter kit. They planted six bulbs in an 8 by 10-foot box. That has grown to 5,000 bulbs covering about one acre on their 81-acre property between Perth and Lanark. “My partner and I have a beautiful property....We do this for the love of it because there’s no real money in it.” Last year they attended the Garlic Festival as vendors for the first time and are returning this year. The festival takes place at the Perth Fairgrounds on Aug. 8 and 9. “Last year was a crushing year,” she says. “Each year offers something different in terms of the weather. We used the wrong mulch and

we had small garlic, but we had lots of turnout at the booth anyway. It was a great experience.” The bulbs are all hand-planted – a job taken on by Matt. Kathy and

their 14-year-old son Liam usually focus on the weeding and mulching. They have an arrangement with a farmer to supply them with straw to help keep the weeds down and retain moisture, and in return they give him garlic. The garlic is planted in the fall and harvested around the third week of July. This year they are growing about 10 varieties. They dry the garlic and then pull them apart and clean them up. Some is kept for replanting and some for selling. “Looks and size are important,” Kathy says. “We clean off the dirt and sometimes we braid it or leave some with stalks.” Kathy also makes and sells veggie burgers with garlic in them, which they will be offering at the Garlic Festival. “It’s not always perfect, but we don’t get overly stressed. We get out to the gardens when we can to weed,” she says. “Last year was difficult and we couldn’t do vegetables. We cut back a bit this year to be realistic.” In addition to balancing work and home, Kathy runs, plays soccer and ball hockey, and tries to keep up with her son’s schedule. “Balancing everything in life can be difficult. I feel lucky that I have a great job, employer and supportive family and friends. Everyone plays an important role for me when I am trying to maintain balance. It is important, for me, to be able to take a step back and refocus when the scale is tipped too much in one direction. This is what helps me to balance my work, relationships and hobbies.” Because she and her partner both work full time, Achin’ Back Acres is not a main source of income. “This is more of a hobby. We’re not about to make millions! It’s about what you enjoy. It is fun to be able to share what we have grown with others. It feels good to be able to do something nice for my friends and family.”


2015 SERVICE AWARDS The 2015 Service Awards were held on Thursday, June 11 at the Perth Golf Course, where 50 employees were honoured for their years of service to the people of Lanark County. CAO Kurt Greaves thanked employees for their dedication. "There is no greater service than public service," he said. "Your work is the definition of community. Community is built on helping your family, friends and neighbours lead better

lives." Employees were honoured for years of service ranging from 5 to 35 in five-year increments and representing all County departments. Kurt commented on the service provided by each department and how the public supports this work, which can be difficult and must be undertaken with limited resources. “That is why today it is so important that we take this small opportunity,

which only happens once every five years in your career, to say thank you.” Warden Keith Kerr (Tay Valley Reeve) offered words of gratitude to all the recipients on behalf of Lanark County Council for the hard work and dedication provided by staff. A big thank you to the Human Resources Team for putting together a great event. Congratulations to all of our 2015 Service Award recipients!


2015 SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

35 YEARS Social Services: Mary Lou White. 30 YEARS Lanark Lodge: Susan Barr, Susan Coutts, Tracy Deforge, Dale Smith. 25 YEARS Lanark Lodge: Gwen Hanson, Adele Harding. Social Services: Kathy Baker. 20 YEARS Lanark Lodge: Connie Harvey, Pamela McVeigh, Yvonne Nagle, Karen Tysick, Linda Walters, Sherrie Wheeler, Carole Wright. Social Services: Brenda Ferrier, Tracey Morris-McNeely. Public Works: Percy Grainger, Tim Millar. 15 YEARS Lanark Lodge: April Erion, Donna Hart-Desjardins, Brent Kinch. Public Works: David Bowes, Kevin Cooke, Kim Hall, Garry Switzer. 10 YEARS Lanark Lodge: Victoria Buker, Sharon Maloney, Lynn O'Neil, Darlene Wood, Colleen Wright. Public Works: Jason Dowdall. Corporate Services: Annette Scott, Garry Welsh. 5 YEARS Lanark Lodge: Dorothy Benson, Susan Evoy, Franklyn Eysaman, Christine Gillevet, Nanci Hornbeck, Robin Hoy, Rebecca Kelford, Melissa Oakes, Joan Taylor. Corporate Services: Christopher Goveia, Amanda Noel, Blair Wadsworth. Social Services: Nikole Green, Lisa Michaud, Kaitlyn Murray, Marnie Poole.

This year’s Service Award recipients, below, were honoured on June 11 at the Perth Golf Club. Congratulations and thanks to everyone!

15 years

25 years35 years 30 years

20 years

10 years 5 years

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE 2015

SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS!

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