Heather was introduced this morning by Michelle Chatten Fiedorec. Michelle prefaced her introduction of Heather with a history of Rotary Fireside Chats/Classification talks. This “Getting to know You” event was conducted by Michelle and Heather in an interview format.
John Farrow introduced our speaker, Pat Armstrong, who has been a Rotarian for 15 years. She is also a member of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group. (ESRAG). Pat works as an educator for sustainability. She has a BSci (Hons.), DipEd. and is currently completing a doctorate on adolescent leadership for sustainability at RMIT University. Pat has worked in a number of roles (mostly in the areas of waste and resource recovery, climate change and biodiversity), including management, strategic planning, grant writing, training, evaluation and publication.
This morning we had a joint meeting between our club and the Morningside Rotary Club of Johannesburg, South Africa.
John Farrow introduced Michelle this morning. She has lived all across Canada, worked in hospitals and with the RCMP, now runs her own business “Ace Nutrition”.
Sutherland introduced our speaker Mara Shaw, who is the Executive Director of the National Farmers Union of Canada. Before her presentation Mara gave us an update on her daughter Karena whom we all know. She is attending Carleton University now, and is Co-President of their Rotaract Club.
John Farrow introduced Shawn Seargeant, Director of Operations for Lionhearts, an organization that has been on front lines and front pages for feeding people during COVID-19, including recently established warming hub at Stages, now operating 7 days a week.
John Farrow introduced our speaker Sean Goodall who gave his classification talk . . .
John Farrow introduced Greg Podmore. Greg is a member of the Rotary Club of Grand Prairie Alberta, and his club has been involved in a large Guatemala literacy project since 2004. https://www.guatemalaliteracy.org/
Greg told us about the high need for their program among indigenous children in Guatemala. Four out of five are illiterate. Parents cannot afford to send them to school. This is a large grass roots project that receives $200,000 annually from the Rotary Foundation. There are also large donations from around the world. Rotary works with an organization in Guatemala called Cooperative for Education. It all started in Cincinnati by two young men who were teachers in Guatemala who thought that text books could be provided to students there. 600 Rotary Clubs around the world are now involved. It started with text books, and then expanded to computers. Children find the books to be exciting. One third of indigenous people cannot read or write. Teachers receive two years of training. First, a story is read to the children. Then when they understand it, they take the story back and put on puppet shows or act out the stories. Later they learn to write their own stories.
At first, the adults didn’t understand why their children needed this. The books include learning about math, social studies, science and Spanish. 60% of mid level jobs require a knowledge of computers. 95% of the individuals who go through the program are able to get employment.
There is a sustainability plan, and the schools also put in money.
RISE is a youth development program that starts in grade 7. Students often leave school after grade 6. Students are chosen in grades 5 or 6 for RISE. They look for tough and determined kids, and not necessarily the brightest ones. They are also children whose parents cannot afford their education. Without this program, 95% will never finish high school. They will go to work farming like their parents did.
The Rise program is much more than books. They gather monthly for training in things like interviewing for jobs. They also tour places where employment may be located. They come together to see different ways to improve their communities. Each student has a counsellor. They learn about good citizenship, and volunteering in their communities to help needy people. It’s all about breaking the cycle of poverty.
How can you get involved? Rotary Clubs can sponsor a class or a student in the Rise program. Canada has also matched the TRF grants.
The next trip to Guatemala is planned for February 2021.
Greta spoke about attending a Friendship Exchange in Guatemala. John Gale spoke about a local group of Rotarians that attends the Uniendo Conference in Central America, and asked whether this project is linked to the Guatemalan stove project. (They are not.)
The question was asked whether they are mostly dealing with just rural populations or also cities. They are involved in both, but mainly in the western highlands.
Heather Nogrady offered our thanks with a virtual loaf of bread. It was interesting to hear about how this project evolved, and to see photos of children who were so obviously happy and proud, and that said a lot.
There are some 4,000 students who participate in the Food Sharing program in schools. Many of these children receive breakfast, lunch and a snack every school day between September and June. My program, Isthmus, bridges the gap between Friday and Monday for these children giving them a hamper of food for the weekend. With COVID-19, numbers are growing and will continue to do so.
When the schools closed, these programs had to rethink how to get food to these children (and their families). The FSP and Isthmus partnered sharing resources and ideas and, with the help of the Limestone District and Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District school boards, and with other partners like Lionhearts and Stock Transportation, we developed a new model. The education boards sought permission from families to share their addresses, phone numbers and number of children in each family. They have subsequently, through their Principals, identified families in need and received the necessary permissions. As of 3:00 pm today, almost 400 families in 31 schools have asked to participate in our food distribution program. Again, this number is sure to grow as situations become more precarious.
We held our first distribution on Friday handing out 226 hampers to 167 families. This test involved the 5 schools that my program serves. Those schools are Rideau Heights PS, JG Simcoe PS, Molly Brant PS, Centennial PS and St. Francis of Assisi CS. Food was purchased or donated on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hampers were packed on Thursday and Friday. The food was delivered between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm on Friday. Families receiving the food were so thankful!
For this delivery, the hampers included the following items: one block of cheese, one litre of milk, broccoli, a small bag of carrots, 4 apples, 4 bananas, 4 oranges, 2 boxes of mac and cheese, a can of pasta sauce, a package of spaghetti, 2 cups of apple sauce, 2 juice boxes, a loaf of bread and 2 packages of oatmeal. Not enough food to get the family through a whole week but we assume they have other sources of food.
The bread is donated by Cobbs bakery through Lionhearts. The rest of the food is purchased at wholesale prices from Deodatos, Grants No Frills and the Wholesale Club.
Going forward, the plan is to run the Isthmus program (5 schools) one week and the Food Sharing Project the next (26 schools) alternating between the two.
Paul Elsley, Rotary Club of Kingston
P.S. Since I first wrote this note, the number of schools and families has gone up.
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| Elizabeth Cohoe, Sandi Dodds | Elizabeth Cohoe, Sandi Dodds, Martin Thomas |
The Mess Studio offers provides opportunity for people to come, connect, and create art in a non-threatening atmosphere of love and acceptance. Bringing a diverse community together, The Mess aims to build relationships through art. Through community building, it strives to empower others to make healthier life choices. The Mess welcomes anyone who is interested in creating art and connecting with others. It operates in the lower hall of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Mess began in 2009 and now includes a pottery studio. The Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston has been a supporter for eight years.
All people who participate in The Mess activities are members. In addition to creating art, they help with running the program including refreshments and meals. The Mess provides opportunities to learn new skills, which contributes to healing lives that have been broken down. "Getting Messy" at The Mess restores dignity, self-reliance, confidence, and self-worth.
The grant will help to continue to strengthen the pottery program, including cost of firing, which is done off-site. New to the program will be a series of three two-hour instructional classes for up to six of the community members, provided by Amaranth Stoneware. The sessions will provide much-needed knowledge that will ensure the continued success of the pottery studio. Amaranth has recently asked to display in one of their stores the work of one of The Mess members.
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Elizabeth Cohoe, Angela Stewart, Holly Gwynne-Timothy | Elizabeth Cohoe, Angela Stewart, Holly Gwynne-Timothy, Martin Thomas |
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| Elizabeth Cohoe, Amanda Dyson, Gary Cassel | Elizabeth Cohoe, Amanda Dyson, Gary Cassel, Martin Thomas |
Pathways to Education empowers high-school-aged youth who live in Rideau Heights and Inner Harbour Neighbourhoods. Youth in their program are working towards graduating from high school with the goal of attending post-secondary education, securing meaningful employment, or entering a skilled trade. Pathways currently serves 350 students and supports close to 300 program alumni.
Drawing on a 2018 program evaluation, Pathways will expand its catchment area to work with students In Grade 7 & 8 from feeder schools. A Facilitator of Group Mentoring will work at Molly Brant and St. Francis schools twice a week, teaching an experiential learning curriculum and building strong relationships. The grant will provide food, transportation, and materials for the program. Forty students will benefit from this program expansion.
The second use of the grant will be a program called Pathways Academy, for students to develop hard and soft skills to make their way in the world. The program includes field trips and exploration of employment. The funding will be used for an outdoors club, where students will learn how to be active in nature and to care for themselves.
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| Elizabeth Cohoe, Andrea Fitzgerald, Katherine Porter | Elizabeth Cohoe, Andrea Fitzgerald, Katherine Porter, Martin Thomas |
H'Art Centre is a not-for-profit, charitable, inclusive community arts hub that provides adults with disabilities and people facing barriers with the opportunity to create, study, and produce works in the arts and to collaborate with professional artists throughout their lives and as they age.
The BOX is H'Art Centre's accessible performing arts space that provides opportunities for those facing barriers to participation in the arts with the opportunity to take part in inclusive performing arts performances. The Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston has provided support in the past for resource improvements to The BOX as well as for special programs.
H'art Centre's Able Artists program provides an ongoing series of facilitated workshops and performances led by professional artists with disabilities and leaders in the inclusive arts field.
MixAbilities is H'Art Centre's new inclusive arts training program designed to help local artists/educators develop skills and confidence as inclusive artists/educators.
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| Elizabeth Cohoe, David Gordon | Elizabeth Cohoe, David Gordon, Martin Thomas |
Lunch by George is a social centre welcoming people of any background who need a comfortable place, warm in the winter, and food. People who are in desperate need, including the hundreds of homeless people in Kingston, can come in and relax a little. Lunch by George opens every weekday at 9 a.m., with coffee and snacks. There are moveable seats which is really important to people. Some people read newspapers; some play cards; some talk; and some just sit and think. There’s a clothes rack with warm clothes. There are also personal supply items available. At 10 a.m., soup is served. At 11 a.m., there is a nutritious hot meal. The food is prepared by coordinator Jenny Hurd, assisted by 30 volunteers. A huge feed is offered at Christmas, which Rotarians help to support. The program has been going since 1985, serving an average of 40 meals a day plus soups. Often 70 to 80 people come, and those numbers have been increasing.
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| Elizabeth Cohoe, Tibratā Gillies | Elizabeth Cohoe, Tibratā Gillies, Martin Thomas |
Loving Spoonful connects people with good food across Kingston & Area. Working toward a healthier, more connected community, Loving Spoonful provides programs and champions policies affecting food security, poverty, social inclusion, and community health. The Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston has provided grants in the past for production of a "Where to Find Good Food in Kingston & Area" brochure, supplies for the GROW project that supports community gardens and gardening education in schools, and supplies for fresh food delivery. Volunteers also help with food delivery.
One of Loving Spoonful's many programs is the Open Kitchens program, which serves people with low incomes and/or experiencing poverty, particularly in the Rideau Heights neighbourhood. Recruitment for participants and the program itself happens there. People attending learn new healthy food skills, meet others, make connections and friendships, and try and enjoy new healthy foods. Weekly community kitchens workshops are hosted by Loving Spoonful's Community Kitchens Coordinator, professional chef Tibratā Gillies, with leadership encouraged from participants. New recipes are shared, new skills learned, and healthy meals are made to share and to take home to eat with families.
In the early 1870’s, the St. Vincent de Paul Society was incorporated in Kingston, Ontario. But the story of 85 Stephen Street begins in 1965 when the Society began to formalize their care for those in need through St. Mary’s Cathedral. By 1966, other local parishes joined in the effort of the society to care for the vulnerable in this community and were providing support to those in need and those who were in jail.
In 1967-68, under the leadership of Arch Bishop Wilhelm, the property at 85 Stephen St. was purchased. With the tireless support of Father William Burns and local parishioners, including Pat Deasey, John McLean and Don Mocktiche, care for those in need could now include free clothing and furniture. At that time, St. Vincent de Paul Society had only the Warehouse to provide services from.
It was not until the mid 1970’s that a hot meal was provided for those living in poverty. Sister Loretta McArthy, who as the 1st Manager of the Society, began this ministry with the purchase of the small building referred to as the “Bug House” as it was once a small extermination business that used the space. Later, a new kitchen was created to accommodate the increasing number of individuals who were in need of a hot meal and a place to belong. The community that exists here today among the clients, volunteers and staff is rooted in the tender care provided by Sister Loretta. Her dedication to this program inspired the naming of our front building – The Loretta Hospitality Centre.
Today, we still offer a hot meal at lunchtime, five days a week, all year long. The WearHouse still operates offering free household items and clothing to those who visit our facility. We also offer an Emergency Food Pantry to assist our neighbours who are running short and find themselves without enough food.
We work very hard to maintain the quality of service that our founders and early supporters aimed to provide. We stay close to our roots and offer kindness and compassion to all whom cross the threshold at 85 Stephen St.
•RC Plattsburgh Sunrise: US$500 + 5%
•RC Arnprior: US$1,000 + 5%
•RC Shawville: US$1,000 + 5%
•RC Clayton: US$1,000 + 5%
•RC Hawksbury: US$2,000 + 5%
•RC Cataraqui-Kingston: US$6,000 + 5%
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•and District 7040: US$10,000 District Dedicated Funds.
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• Outcomes of the project (please not 1 lakh = 100,000
• Regular monitoring and observation was done by the watershed development team. The following are the impact assessed by the team:
• New water harvesting structures :51.36 lakh liters capacity
• Rejuvenation of existing water body : 17.22 lakh liters [Additional]
• Fallow land in to cultivation : 53.6 Ha.
• Assessed Impact
• Increase of water table in bore-well : From 740 feet to 38 feet
• Increase of water table in open well : 25 feet to 2 feet
• Rejuvenation of almost dried bore well : from 440 feet to 80 feet
• Rejuvenation of dried open well : from 27 feet to 2 feet
• Cropping intensity : 165%
• Changes in cropping pattern : 35% of CBP area (137.6 ha)
• Productivity improvement : 115%
• Rain water harvesting details through various water bodies
• Rain water harvested in surface storage :183.75 lakh liters
• Rain water harvested in sub surface :91.5 lakh liters
Her service will include participating in fund-raising through Bingo and the Auction. She was welcomed to attend all committee meetings. Jackie looking forward to meeting all the committee chairs and finding her niche for service and fellowship.
 | Ana Sutherland prepares membership pin |
 | Ana presents Jackie her membership pin |
 | Jackie with her sponsor, Ana Sutherland |
 | Ana, Jackie, and President Rick Fiedorec |
 | Guest Speaker, Mark Blakey, Past Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Ontario Shirley Blakey, Past Grand Chaplain Rick Fiedorec, President, Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston, who thanked Mark and Shirley, presenting them with a loaf of bread, the club tradition |
President-Elect Ana Sutherland introduced Mark. Ana had met with Shirley Blakey, who suggested that our club consider using the Odd Fellows Hall for meetings. That led to the Odd Fellows Hall becoming our meeting place earlier this year, and then on May 21st. It seemed a natural step to invite Mark and Shirley so that we could learn about our hosts and their organization. We discovered many parallels of values, fellowship, and service between Odd Fellows and Rotary.
The meeting program for November 27, 2018 was the presentation of cheques totalling $17,720 to seven organizations who submitted grant proposals this fall, and also to one organization (Lunch by George) that we have been supporting annually for a number of years.
Rotarian Terri Hodges coordinated the adjudication process from start to finish, beginning with the posting of information documents on the club website, receiving grant proposals submitted, distributing these to all of our club members, organizing and chairing the adjudication meeting to which all members are invited, and today being the culmination of that process with the presentation of cheques to successful applicants.
Elizabeth Cohoe, director of service projects was on hand to assist Terri, and began the proceedings by thanking all of our club members who participated in any of the fund-raising events, including the auction, the nut drive, bingos, and cash calendar sales.
Greta du Bois, Director, Foundation, presented Paul Harris Fellow awards to four Kingstonians nominated by club members.
I’ve nominated Mary Farrar to receive a Paul Harris Award for her many and varied contributions, that align with education, health, conservation, community building, and reconciliation with our Indigenous friends.
Professionally, Mary was an elementary school teacher. She retired at 55, and after that became very deeply involved in our community.
Mary moved into the city (from a hobby farm) 10 years ago and it was only then that she began cycling. She has been part of the initiative to get all the bike lanes you see now. This supports the physical health of our people as well as health of the environment by encouraging biking and reducing carbon emissions.
She was instrumental in getting support from her city councilor and then from city staff to create the Inner Harbor Heritage Trail. With an initial dream of having a trail from the LaSalle Causeway to Kingston Mills on the west side of the Cataraqui River, our city staff suggested that she get a group together to work on possible plans. She was able to get the involvement of some influential citizens, and it went from there. In the end, staff went beyond the original suggestion and proposed that the trail come down the east side of the river as well. Council voted unanimously in favor of the project and completion is planned within the next 20 years. For Canada’s 150th, Council approved that the Inner Harbor Heritage trail be part of a connection between the downtown and the Trans Canada Trail. This connecting trail is now complete except for one inaccessible section at the intersection of Division and John Counter Blvd. Mary and her colleagues are working with city staff to ensure that a pedestrian and cycling overpass will be put in place to solve this problem.
Mary is the President of Friends of the Kingston Inner Harbour. The trail has made the Douglas Fluhrer Park more accessible to people in the north end of Kingston. Before, they were cut off by the railroad. She taught for many years at the old Kingscourt Public School and has an affection for the people in that neighborhood. She strives to do things that will help to create social equity.
The Kingston Inner Harbour is lively with a large number and variety of animals, including reptiles and birds. With Mary’s leadership, the Douglas Fluhrer Park has become an active place of learning, of projects to support the ecosystem, and activities that connect the settlers’ community to the Indigenous community. There have been organized family days, and many special events. Mary was aware early on in the project to support the turtle population that our Indigenous people place importance on turtles in their cultural beliefs and teaching. She has included The Mohawk Grandmothers’ Council, and The Caretakers of Belle Island. Activities at the park have included teaching about the science of turtles, and about Indigenous learning. On one occasion there was a blanket exercise held in the park, in cooperation with Four Directions and Peace Quest.
By itself the turtles project is notable. It has been going for three years now. Volunteers monitor turtle behavior and cover the nests to protect them from predators. Mary has been able to obtain grants from the Kingston Community Foundation to coordinate the volunteers, and from Trailhead to connect paddlers with the turtles and from the Community Foundation to hire students to help with educational event coordination and improve the quality of the citizen-science research they are engaged in. As well, she has obtained financial support from notable foundations outside of Kingston. Partnerships are in place with Queen's University, Carleton University, and several charitable organizations interested in turtle preservation and turtle habitat. Mary herself has been out snorkeling in the Inner Harbour to try to determine where the turtles come back to hibernate. It is known where they bask in the sun, and where they lay, but not where they hibernate. It is necessary to learn these things as part of a long-term demographic study of turtle habitat there.
On another note, most recently, Mary has begun to make the public aware of the lack of dental care provided to people in long term care. Her husband Edward has been permanently hospitalized at KGH, due to dementia, which also makes communication difficult. Mary had no idea that there is just no time for the staff to provide adequate dental hygiene, or she would have been providing this herself. Ed’s teeth were falling out, and in the end, this led to him having all his remaining teeth removed, due to neglect. Mary took her story to the Whig Standard, and the full story was reported. She stresses that she places no blame on the nursing staff, but since then, she has taken the first steps to bring about change.
Mary is known affectionately to many as “The Turtle Lady”, so my friend Paulette Bruce who does traditional beadwork, and who is here today, designed and made something to recognize that before she receives the award.
Doug van der Horden is a child and youth worker and Adolescent Care Worker at Ernestown Secondary School in Odessa. Children and youth benefit from his work. He is providing clothes in a back-pack as a comfort item during the first point of police intervention.
He works to raise awareness of human trafficking (see The Real Deal on Human Trafficking, Kingston Whig Standard) and is cofounder of the Alliance for Action to help victims.
Ray has helped many in Kingston to understand the challenges faced by many people in Kenya. He and Irwin Streight presented to Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston telling us about the work and its impact.
I have known Ray Vos for many years. He is a humble man and totally committed to doing what he can to improve lives in Kenya. He works incessantly on the project.
Through Creative Framing/Gallery Raymond, Ray has been a consistent donor to the Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston community auction.
Ray is a fine example of what one person with a passion for service can accomplish.
Ray Vos created The Kenya Initiative: From Street To School about 9 years ago after learning about the challenges faced by people living in and around Kijabe, Kenya. He wanted to support young people, often AIDS orphans or abandoned children, with housing and education at boarding high schools.
Why boarding high schools? Students receive a much superior education and have the best opportunity to be able to care on with post-secondary options. But boarding high schools cost about $1,000 per year, far beyond the reach to most Kenyan families.
Two young men, Isaac and Kaleb, were the first to benefit. With help from The Kenya Initiative, they have both graduated from university and are building their lives.
Funds raised by The Kenya Initiative also support Thread of Hope, an organization training women to learn a skill and become providers for their families. Many have benefited from training and micro loans to establish business from a revolving loan fund made possible by The Kenya Initiative.
Ray Vos has travelled to Kenya three times, 2013, 2016, and again in 2018 to learn, understand and provide moral and financial support.
He is chief fundraiser and a major financial contributor to The Kenya Initiative. Many people purchase his photographs taken in Kenya of the people, all ages, and animals and landscape. 100% of sale proceeds go to The Kenya Initiative.
I met On'a'got'tay at an event of the Community Foundation of Kingston and Area following the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. From then Nancy and I have gotten to know On'a'got'tay. I meet with him most weeks. He has broadened my understanding and I am very thankful for his coaching, friendship, guidance, and counsel.
On'a'got'tay is active most every day as an ambassador for indigenous peoples, as an educator on matters of language and culture, as a medical person providing knowledge of indigenous medicine and natural remedies.
On'a'got'tay has helped and helps all of us to have a better understanding of our past and to work not just for reconciliation but also for reconciliaction. He is a face of indigenous people in Kingston, enabling people of all races to learn from one another.
Rotarians benefit from his attendance at weekly meetings. The National Committee particularly benefits from his knowledge and advice.
At Kingston General Hospital, On'a'got'tay educates medical personnel on traditional remedies at the same time he comforts indigenous patients with the ways of western medicine.
He is sought out by local school boards and by the City of Kingston.
Children benefit weekly at The Language Nest, a beneficiary of Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston, by learning their language and culture. On'a'got'tay is one of the founders. The Saturday morning programme takes place at Kingston Community Health Centre.
Church groups are gaining understanding through his teaching.
Greta introduced our two speakers, Yessica Rivera Belsham and Théo Paradis aka Red Sky, from the Kingston Drum Circle. Yessica originates in Mexico, and Théo comes from the Ottawa area. Both are indigenous people.
Yessica started Brazilian drumming in 2009, and has gradually added drums from all over the world. The Kingston Drum Circle is using drumming to bring people back to their indigenous roots. Drums can be found in every part of the world, and in this context, represent the heart beat of Mother Earth. Yessica brought a drum from West Africa, and because of Thanksgiving, the two shared a song of gratitude for Mother Earth. She explained that as you feel the vibration, you can think about things that make you feel love in your heart.
She was located at the Tett Centre for a while but can now be found at the Canadian Mental Health Association headquarters. For them, so much of what the drums can do is related to mental health. All cultures have something to share, and every voice is beautiful. She has also done programs at H’Art and at Ongwanada.
Yessica now has a total of 40 drums, and is receiving requests from schools, and from Providence Care.
From questions that followed, she talked about the drum tradition in Mexico. Drums have been used in ceremony, in war, and more frequently in celebration.
It had been suggested that she submit a grant proposal to our community grants process, to obtain drum kits for schools, but decided against this idea. For her the drums must be authentic. The drums connect many natural elements. She pointed out that just on the one drum at the meeting, it involved goat skin, wood and water. She sees it as creating a connection on a deep level to Mother Earth. It’s much more than just playing with drums. Today, many indigenous people are struggling to return to the culture that was taken away, and drumming is a meaningful way to reconnect.
Heather Kembel offered thanks to Yessica and Théo, especially for the song of gratitude at this time.
Jacob Gardner, our guest speaker, October 2, 2018, is a Radiologist at KGH and is involved in the Ranked Ballot initiative and is here to tell us about it.
I went to Ottawa when I was 17 as part of Adventures in Citizenship.
We are currently use a first-past-the-post system for civic elections in Kingston. This splits the vote across those running on the popular issue.
A ranked-ballot system is being proposed in which voters rank all the candidates, first to last, and the race is run over and over, each time eliminating the last person, until one candidate has more than 50% of the vote.
This sets up for a more civil election.
You shouldn’t have to vote "the least of the evils." There is no strategic voting with ranked ballot– you don’t have to vote for someone you don’t want.
The ranked ballot system allows newer candidates to thrive.
The referendum question will be on the ballot of the upcoming mayoral and district rep election.
For more information, see: Ranked Ballots--City of Kingston.
 | Kayleigh Hunter reports on Adventures in UnderstandingKayleigh was introduced by Greg Mumford, Director, Youth Services. Our club sponsored Kayleigh to attend Adventures in Understanding . Thank you for inviting my Dad and me here today and for sponsoring me to attend Adventures in Understanding. I was initially on the waiting list but got in! Lots of gear was required and the visit to Tim Horton’s on our way there was a must! Started with a blanket toss! Canoeing through locks. Saw a fox! Toured Trent University and canoed through five locks to Lakefield college – amazing storm and flyaway tent! At Camp Kawartha went rock climbing and ate in a teepee. Archery, knife and axe throwing. Had a teaching with an Elder. Got a soapstone to carve. Paddled 22km on Day 5! Did some drumming and learned about wild rice. Saw shooting stars on our last night ☺ Sweetgrass gift (mind, body, health significance) Thanks! Future candidates should have an open mind and love to learn. No phones allowed and now I’m using mine less. I am now reading and writing on indigenous texts in English at school. Heather Kembel thanked Kayleigh and presented her with muffins! |
There has been an amazing growth in social awareness and in the number of individuals to whom The Alzheimer Society provides service. Often for talks such as this she brings a family—Bob and Laurel—to share their story, but 7am is too early! Laurel is the caregiver and her husband Bob has dementia. They say hello and may come to visit on some other occasion.
The Alzheimer Society in Kingston was started in 1981 by volunteers. Some founders are still involved. Last year recognized need for extended services in KFL&A; there are now satellites in Sharbot Lake, Northbrook, and Napanee. People shouldn’t have to drive an hour for services; services should be available close to home. The board has generously supported this expansion. Funding comes from grants, the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and fund raising.
Karina Gummert, Marcel Gummert, Sigi Scholten, August 7, 2018
People usually think Spaghetti, Pizza, Gelato, and hand gestures. And the hand gestures one is so true!
In the North of Italy and very densely populated: Cremona
Not a very unified country, with different dialects even as close as 50km apart.
I played soccer there – had to register and paperwork took 5 months to come back from Rome! Attended all the practices, but in the end I couldn’t play in the games with my team. Everyone crazy about soccer, even if they don’t play.
The pizza there tastes SO different than the pizza here. I liked the thinner one best.
13 exchange students in Cremona and we would meet regularly to chat and have coffee.
Stayed with 3 different host families and it was an amazing experience.
After about 7 mos, I made dinner for 11 of us exchange students.
Visited Pisa, Milan (went 5 or 6 times); went skiing at Ponto di Ligno – through the clouds!; Lake Garda, Rome (my sister Karina visited with me in March); Class trip to Munich!; Venice – best seafood ever!; Sicily – most beautiful beach ever!; Salo (visited our exchange student from last year); Great water bottle fillup stations! Florence (in hospital for 5 days, and that messed up my visit with my family); Cinque Terre – 5 little towns on beautiful cliffs overlooking the water; Prague; Vienna – went to the UN; Budapest – my favourite city of the whole trip – good food and awesome people; Slovenia; visited so many different cities that I can’t remember them all!
I learned so much – new life experiences, new friends, beautiful memories.
Thank you SO much for this opportunity – the best year of my life yet!
A: I DID go to school there and studied Italian. High schools are subject specific – language, science, economics – different from here.
Q: (Michelle) Before you went, what did you most want to achieve?
A: I wanted to learn Italian. Achieved a language certificate.
Heather thanked Marcel on behalf of the Club.
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| John invited Lilly to be our guest speaker July 31, 2018 to talk about her work with Ducks Unlimited on controlling invasive species on Wolfe Island. | Greta du Bois, herself very concerned about human influence on the environment, thanked Lily for her work and her excellent presentation. |
Dr. Dorothy Cotton is a forensic psychologist with a particular interest in the area of police psychology and who holds diplomate status in police psychology—the only one in Canada. She is an Associate Member of both the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and has been involved in the latter organization’s policy and program development related to police/mental health systems liaison. She consults regularly, both formally and informally, with police services across the country about issues related to development of mental health liaisons programs and committees. Dr. Cotton also provides pre-employment and fitness for duty assessments to a variety of police services.
Dr. Cotton is also an adjunct faculty member at Queen’s University, is Past President of the College of Psychologists of Ontario (the regulatory body for psychology), has served on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and is also a Fellow of CPA. She served on the Mental Health and the Law Committee of the Mental Health Association of Canada. In 2012, she received a Diamond Jubilee Medal recognizing her work in relation to interactions between police and people with mental illnesses and in 2018 she was invested into the Order of Ontario for her work in this area.
