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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-02-11, Page 3Wednesday, February 11, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 3 Increased Participation Rate Good for Business Four County Labour Market Planning ff Board Submitted Stratford -Bruce Peninsula (Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth counties) employment decreased by 1,000 in Janu- ary, resulting in an increased unemployment rate of 0.8 percentage points to 5.1%. There was a decrease in full- time employment of 200 jobs while there were 600 less part-time jobs. Between January 2014 and January 2015 employment increased by 4,000 (+2.7%), representing a higher increase than the country (+0.7%), with most of the growth in the second half of the period. Over the 12 months to Jan- uary, Stratford -Bruce Penin- sula mirrored the labour market behaviour of the province with a declining unemployment rate. How- ever, the local unemploy- ment rate has continued to be lower than that of Ontario. Participation rates are key to understanding the activity in the local labour market. Over the 12 months to January the local participation rate continues to increase from 64.4% in 2014 to 65.5% in 2015. This is different than that of the province which has seen a decrease from 65.4% in 2014 to 64.7% in 2015. "As people participate in the labour market our unem- ployment rate has increased. In recent surveys and local conversation with Employ- ment Ontario service provid- ers employers have indicated their need for workers." advised Gemma Mendez - Smith of the Four County Labour Market Planning Board. "With an increased participation rate employers have more potential candi- dates to fill positions." The Draft Bruce Grey Food Charter Now Available for Community Review Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force and Grey Bruce Health Unit Submitted The draft Bruce Grey Food Charter is now available for public comment. Developed by the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force with input from a variety of community stake- holders, the charter outlines the goals and objectives of the community and becomes a tool to affect change in pro- moting a healthy food system in Grey and Bruce Counties. The draft Charter, and a sur- vey offering an opportunity for comment, are available on the Grey Bruce Health Unit web- site at HYPERLINK "http:// www.publichealthgreybruce. on.ca/Your-Health/Eating- Well/Food-Charter" \t "_ blank" http://www.publiche- althgreybruce.on.ca/ Your-Health/Eating-Well/ Food -Charter. Responses will be collected throughout Feb- ruary. Once feedback is received, the final version of the charter will be launched. A food charter is a vision. It outlines the goals and objec- tives of the community and can be the basis to affect and inform policy. Local food charters build on community knowledge and strengths to develop a robust food system reflecting local values. The draft Charter addresses how food is produced, distrib- uted, sold, and enjoyed. Six key values are identified with related statements of support addressing: health, social jus- tice, culture, education, sus- tainable economic develop- ment, and environment. "We encourage comment from the public," says Laura Needham, Registered Dieti- tian with the Grey Bruce Health Unit and Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force. "Develop- ing the draft Charter allows us to reflect on the strengths of Grey and Bruce. There are many successes for our com- munity to build on in our food system. The Charter will sup- port future action by giving us clear direction towards the community's interests." In addition to the Grey Bruce Health Unit website, the draft Charter and the food charter survey are also available on the on the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Facebook page. For more information or to obtain a copy of the draft Charter, please contact Jill Umbach, Poverty Task Force Coordinator, at HYPERLINK "mailto:jill.umbach@gmail. com" \t "_blank" jill. umbach@gmail.com or Laura Needham, Public Health Die- titian, at HYPERLINK "mailto:l.needham@publi- chealthgreybruce.on.ca" \t "_ blank" l.needham@publiche- althgreybruce.on.ca. Public Health Aligns Resources with Provincial "Patient First: Action Plan for Health Care" Grey Bruce Health Unit Submitted The Grey Bruce Health Unit is bringing program and service delivery into line with the strategic directions for Public Health and as identified by the provincial Patient First: Action Plan for Health Care. This focus aligns resources with priority populations and in support of community-based pro- grams that promote healthy choices and help to prevent disease and illness. As a result, resources will shift to a population health approach for maternal and child health. The Grey Bruce Health Unit will provide a consultation role and assign resources aimed at commu- nity capacity in areas such as baby -friendly communi- ties, stroller -walking clubs, walkable and bikeable com- munities for all ages and abilities and improving access to healthy and local food choices. Similarly, resources will shift towards programming that supports 18 month screening within the primary care setting. This will have greater impact on school readiness and address infants and toddler issues in a timelier manner. The Gift of Motherhood prenatal course is an exam- ple of this model to support healthy choices. Offered to new parents, the online course looks at the process of labour, what to expect and how to get ready. To help create a culture of health and wellness, Public Health will improve support for creating healthy schools and providing consultation for mental health promotion and building youth resil- iency. This will include strengthening ties with pri- mary care partners for indi- vidual client needs, rather than duplicating those services. To support people making the right decisions about their health, we are striving for greater transparency with the disclosure of restaurant inspection reports, outbreak reports and healthcare worker flu immunization rates. Overall, the focus is to move upstream in order to align resources to support the larger picture of com- munity health. This will be achieved by exploring opportunities for develop- ing capacity and working with partners to embed appropriate services within the community. Stratford -Bruce Peninsula region has seen a net increase of business by 476 between June 2013 and June 2014. Upgrading the skills of resi- dents to meet the require- ments of local employers needs to continue. In the Skills Gap Study released March 2014, approximately 50% of employers stated they have to go outside of the region to find skilled workers. Locally and timely offered certificate and modular training may help to alleviate this issue. Mendez -Smith highlighted the new Ministry of Training, Colleges & Universities - Can- ada -Ontario Job Grant will play a key role in reducing the above statistic. The grant pro- vides funds for employers to train existing staff and new hires. This initiative should help boost the skill level of their workforce and lessen some of their hiring chal- lenges. Applications are being accepted for the program, which also requires a contri- bution from employers. Call 1-866-734-9425 or visit www.medicalert.ca (ID MedicAlert Lets You Live Life. LUCKNOW ARENA SCHEDULE FEBRUARY 11 - FEBRUARY 17 Wed Feb 11, 2015 10am Adults & Tots Public Skating 5pm Initiation #1 & #2 Practice 6pm Bantam Development Practice 7pm PeeWee Rep Playoff Game vs Goderich 8:30pm Legends Practice 9:30pm Rec League - Roosters vs Saratoga Fri Feb 13, 2015 10am Adults & Tots Public Skating 4:45pm Tyke Practice 5:45pm Atom Girls Practice 6:45pm Atom Rep Practice 8pm Midget Development Sun Feb 15, 2015 10am 11:30am 1pm 2pm 3:30pm 4pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:30pm Port Albert vs Teeswater Old Devils vs Lakeport Public Skating PeeWee Girls Lancers Game Warmup Lancers Playoff Game vs Shallow Lake Midget Rep Practice Cliff's Shinny Bad Apples Tue Feb 17, 2015 10am 5pm 6pm 7pm 8:30pm Adults & Tots Public Skating Atom Rep Practice PeeWee Development Practice Midget Girls Game vs Saugeen Shores Lancer Practice Thu Feb 12, 2015 10am Adults & Tots Public Skating 5pm Atom Development Practice 6pm PeeWee Rep Practice 7pm Bantam Rep 8:30pm Midget Girls Practice 9:30pm Rec League - Eagles vs Holyrood Sat Feb 14, 2015 9:45am Initiation #1 10:45am Initiation #2 11:45am OPEN ICE 12:45pm Atom Development 2pm Novice Development 3pm PeeWee Development 4:30pm Bantam Rep Mon Feb 16, 2015 All day Family Day 10am Adults & Tots Public Skating 1 pm Public Skating - Sponsored by Lucknow Travel 5pm Novice Development Practice 6pm Bantam Rep Practice 7pm Bantam Development 8:30pm Midget Rep HURON TELECOMMUNICATIONS CO-OPERATIVE LTD. 519-395-3800 www.hurontel.on.ca