HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2017-03-01, Page 3Wednesday, March 1, 2017 • Huron Expositor 3
Four hospice bids announced for Central Huron
Justine Alkema
Postmedia Network
The long awaited hospice -bed -
location decision from the South
West LII IN came last week. While
the decision was not a surprise, it
did bring mixed reactions.
At a board meeting in Tavistock
Tuesday afternoon, the South West
LHIN board gave final approval for
six hospice beds in Stratford and
for four hospice beds in Clinton.
The LHIN had identified Perth and
Huron as priorities due to their lack
of access to residential hospice
care.
In Stratford, the reaction to the
announcement was very
positive.
There has been a Stratford
Perth Residential Hospice Steer-
ing Committee in the town that
has been in talks with the LIHN
since as early as 2014. That group
formed following a Stratford
Rotary Club public meeting to
measure interest in building a
residential hospice. The response
was overwhelming. The commit-
tee was created and has been
working tirelessly ever since.
Most disappointed were those
at the helm of Jessica's House, a
residential Hospice in Exeter,
which has not yet been built but is
in the works. Jessica's House is
named for Jessica Hamather, a
22 -year old woman who died a
year ago. The community in South
Huron has rallied around that ini-
tiative with great rigor and they
have already raised almost 2 mil-
lion dollars.
"I'he group advocated to receive
the funding, but expressed feeling
ignored by the decision makers.
The group will carry on with
their plans without funding with
the hopes that eventually funding
with catch up with them. Jessica's
House Steering committee mem-
ber Pat O'Rourke optimistically
pointed out that most hospice
projects aren't funded when they
begin but get funding along the
way.
That would mean Central
Huron is in a unique situation.
While four beds have been desig-
nated for the area due to its cen-
trality, there is no group rallying
behind the cause even close to
the efforts otthe committees in
Stratford and Exeter.
The government provides no
capital funding for residential
hospices therefore all the funds
to purchase the land and build
and furnish the hospice must be
incurred locally. Also, the LII IN
will only cover $105,000 per bed
annually, leaving the community
to raise the rest; S105,000 is only
60-80% of the average annual
operating costs.
Even with the momentum in
Stratford and Exeter, both groups
have expressed that the deadline is
tight; the LIHN requires the hos-
pices be open by March 2018.
Even though the Stratford
steering committee has been
planning for several years, Strat-
ford Perth Residential Hospice
Committee co-chair Andy Wer-
ner said, "It's imperative the
entire project be allowed to
move forward to meet the time-
lines [...1 It will be a significant
challenge to open by March
2018, but Stratford Perth is up for
the challenge."
Central Huron's mayor Jim Ginn
told the News Record, "I do agree
with beds being located centrally in
Huron County. If it's for all people
in Huron County, it makes sense
it's located centrally."
"I do have concerns with operat-
ing short falls. There's a lot of
money that needs to be raised on
File photo.
an annual basis for operating
[costs]. I don't think Central Huron
or Huron County is prepared to
fund that shortfall; it's a health care
issue and that is a provincial
responsibility.. Other the hand, it's
good news. There will be some jobs
from it, though not huge by any
means"
"I haven't heard of any group
that is specifically raising
funds," he said. He noted they
have been assured that in other
municipalities, hospices tend to
get donations once they are up
and running.
However as for current funds, he
said, "I've heard there maybe some
money, but whatever it is; it's fairly
minimal at this point."
-With files from the Stratford Bea-
con Herald and Lakeshore Advance
Committee hoping to locate families of WWII Huron County veterans who fought to liberate Netherlands
The Dutch - Canadians -
Remember as One
Committee of Huron County
is in the process of planning
events to be held in Goderich
during the month of May 2017
during Canada's 150th
anniversary year. These
celebrations and ceremonies
will be especially focused
upon the 20 men from Huron
County and the 7,600
Canadians who paid the
supreme sacrifice during the
push to liberate the
Netherlands in
1944 - 1945.
These events in May 2017
will involve our veterans,
youth, military and of course
the citizens of Huron
County. For more
information about the event,
see the adjacent article.
The group is in a
partnership with the City of
Burlington, the City of
Burlington Mundialization
Committee and with
Holland Christian Homes in
Brampton, and together the
committee has invited Her
Royal Highness Princess
Margriet to visit Canada
during Canada's 150th
anniversary year. The
partnership is confident that
this visit to Canada will in
fact take place.
In the near future, we will
be making an
announcement as to the
exact date in May these
celebrations and ceremonies
will be taking place at
Liberation Memorial Park.
The group is respectfully
asking for the assistance of
the citizens of Huron County
in locating and inviting the
relatives of the 20 men
named below. They are
looking for photos, stories
and families of these men.
Assistance is very much
appreciated, and should you
be able to assist them, they
ask that you contact Jim
Rutledge, Co -Chair /
Secretary of the Dutch -
Canadians - Remember as
One Committee at either
519-524- 1808 or at
bookofhonour3945@gmail.
L ASE RECY 4
com.
Listed below are the names
of our fallen along with their
regiments and homes in
Huron County. Four pieces of
information are listed with
each name: their surname,
given name, regiment and
town.
ELLIOTT, Robert James,
Sherbrooke Fusiliers, Blyth/
Teeswater
EVANS, Lyle Alexander,
South Alberta Regiment,
Brussels
FAWCETT, Clifford Roy,
Lincoln and Welland
Regiment, Dublin
FINLAYSON, Roderick
Alexander, Governor
General's Foot Guards,
Localsh/Lucknow
FRASER, James, RCAF
424 "Tiger" Squadron,
Clinton/Goderich
HART, Wilburt Carl, Black
Watch Regiment, Wingham
HOFFMAN, Leonard
Theodore, Highland Light
Infantry, Zurich
HOOD, Lloyd, Lincoln
and Welland Regiment,
Brussels
JAMIESON, James,
Carleton and York Regiment
JOHNSTON, Kelso James,
Royal Canadian Army Pay
Corps, Goderich
KELLY, George Francis,
PLEASE
RECYCLE
1.14
'1
,AI.'
TOWN TAXI
is pleased to
announce we
are back on the
road again.
Under New Management
Please call
519-348-0009
to hear about our new changes.
1
Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders
McSPADDEN, John Earl,
Royal Winnipeg Rifles,
Walton
MONTGOMERY, Robert
James, Lincoln and Welland
Regiment, Dungannon
MUGFORD, Earl Robert,
Royal Canadian Regiment,
Auburn
MURRAY, Donald
McLennan, Royal Hamilton
Light Infantry, Seaforth
RYAN, Thomas Joseph,
Highland Light Infantry,
Grand Bend
SALLOWS, Robert Henry,
Essex Scottish Regiment,
Goderich
STRAUGHN, George
Melville, Argyll and
Sutherland Highlanders,
Auburn
TAYLOR, Melvin, 1st
Canadian Parachute
Battalion, Kippen
YOUNG, Richard
Kenneth, Calgary
Highlanders, Goderich
Tan for a toonie
all week with the
purchase of a
tanning package
Tanning Special
MONDAY MARCH 6TH SATURDAY MARCH 11TH
A TAN RESPONSIBM7
PURCHASE 10 LAYDOWN TANS AND RECEIVE 5 TANS MEI
OR PURCHASE 50 STAND-UP MINUTES AND RECEIVE 30 MINUTES FR Et
nning Accelerators 15% Off All Wee
Chance to WIN free tanning
products with every tanning
package purchase!
IMAGE 11
59 Main St. S., Seaforth 519-527-0780 www.totalimage8.can
Hours: Mon. 9am to 6pm • Tues.- Thurs. 9am to Bpm • Fri. Salm tolpm • Sat. Sam to Zpn