News
Lanark County OPP wants public to know what it’s up to DESMOND DEVOY
desmond.devoy@metroland.com
CARLETON PLACE – The Lanark County OPP wants residents to know more about whom they are and what they do. This follows on the heels of a local OPP Community Satisfaction Survey 2010, which was released recently and presented to the Carleton Place police services board at their meeting on Monday, Nov. 21. Respondents were asked if the OPP is providing enough information to the public about their local programs and initiatives. About 54 per cent said yes, while 46 per cent said no. “I don’t think that the community knows the good work we provide,” said OPP Lanark County Commander Gerry Salisbury. “I’d like to bump that number up by 25 per cent,” for when the next survey is taken in 2012. “One area we failed in Carleton Place was that we should have had another community safety day,” said Salisbury, in reflection. Salisbury and his officers have gone on local radio stations to try and get the word out about what they are up to, in light of the poll results.
However, Salisbury said that not all of the poll results were bad. Board member Wayne Drummond commended the OPP for the presence. “It’s visibility,” said Drummond, himself a former police officer. “People feel safer when they see the black and white police cars.” Drummond pointed out that the Lanark County OPP rated a “somewhat involved” ranking for community involvement. “Here, people are quite satisfied with involvement,” said Drummond. “You don’t get a lot of compliments on this job,” said Salisbury. Carleton Place Mayor Wendy LeBlanc offered to help the OPP in its outreach efforts to the community by including any information that the town may have on their TV screen information boards at the arena and pool. When it came to community issues, the largest problem in the community for respondents was drug and substance abuse, at 42.4 per cent. Alcohol abuse was also another concern, at 32.6 per cent, while in third spot, nuisance activities made up 31.2 per cent of the problems. Property crime problems were a concern
Les Reynolds for 29.7 per cent of responders, while problems of substance abuse again bubbled to the surface, with concerns over illegal drug grow-ops and meth labs a concern for 25.3 per cent of those polled. Domestic violence was a concern in the community for 26.9 per cent of those surveyed, while sexual assault was the second highest concern at 18.4 per cent, followed in third place by child and elder abuse at 17.5 and 15.9 per cent respectively. Youth issues were also on respondents’ minds. About 55.2 per cent worried about drugs in schools, while 52.9 per cent were concerned about the lack of programs for youth. Violence in schools was a concern for 25.1 per cent of responders, while youth gathering on the streets
was a concern for 21.8 per cent of those polled. Only 4.9 per cent worried about youth gangs. However, 88.1 per cent of responders felt “very safe” or “safe” walking alone at night, and a whopping 93 per cent of responders said that they felt that OPP officers in their community were approachable and friendly. This is the first time that the OPP has used a commercial research company to conduct such interviews. In the past, local volunteers were used. The poll was carried out by telephone between Oct. 21 and Dec. 6, 2010. About 382 surveys were conducted, with a margin of error of plus or minus five per cent, 19 times out of 20. Of that number, 151 respondents were from Mississippi Mills and Lanark Highlands, while 98 were from Carleton Place. A further 69 were from Beckwith Township. About 45 were from central and north Frontenac, while the remaining 19 respondents were from Tay Valley and Drummond/North Elmsley. FESTIVE RIDE BEGINS The festive RIDE (Reducing Impaired Driving Everywhere) program will kick off this Fri-
day, Nov. 25, and runs until Jan. 2, 2012, but its duties are not just confined to the evening and nighttime. “A focus this year is that a lot of people think that (the) festive RIDE program is just in the evening,” said OPP Sgt. Rob Croth. “It is in the morning, the afternoon … Visibility will be the key element.” LeBlanc stated she too had been stopped by the program one afternoon. “(But) the majority (of stops) are in the afternoon and evening,” admitted Salisbury, who noted afternoon office parties and liquid lunches were often the culprits behind people being stopped in the afternoon. Salisbury noted the RIDE program does not cost the town much. “It’s not overtime,” said Salisbury. “It’s all done on paid shift … We don’t pay time and a half. We don’t charge the municipality overtime. There is no extra charge to the municipality (for the RIDE program). It’s paid by the province,” through a provincial RIDE program subsidy. Croth also noted it was not only uniformed officers, but OPP civilian staff take part in the program too.
Carleton Place Hospital Foundation and Auxiliary looking forward to the Christmas Season The Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) Foundation and Auxiliary are preparing for a festive Christmas Season and would like to invite the community to participate in the events scheduled in support of the Hospital. The first event on the calendar is the Foundation’s 14th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 26 at the Hospital following the Santa Claus Parade. “The Tree Lighting is the Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser and we have partnered with the Carleton Place BIA once again to host the ceremony after the Carleton Place Santa Claus Parade,” stated Chantelle Troy, Manager/Community Relations Officer of the CPDMH Foundation. “The Foundation is always so grateful for the community’s response to this event and we hope to see a lot of people at our Tree Lighting so we can properly kick off the Christmas Season at the Hospital.” The Tree Lighting provides the community with the opportunity to spread the true spirit of the Christmas season by sponsoring a light on our Tree in memory of a loved one, or in honour of friends and family, hospital physicians and staff, or anyone that has touched your life in a meaningful way. The ceremony will be held shortly after the Santa Claus parade and will include an appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The
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Town Singers will also be at the event to lead the crowd in the singing of Christmas Carols. All donations received from the Tree Lighting will be directed to buying a new ultrasound unit for the Emergency Department. The new ultrasound machine will allow our Hospital to better treat and diagnosis the patients visiting our Emergency Department and is estimated to cost $79,000. Gifts to the Tree Lighting may be made online at http://www.carletonplacehospital.ca, in person at the Foundation Office or by mailing your donation to the Foundation (211 Lake Ave East, Carleton Place, K7C 1J4). Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $10 or more. The CPDMH Auxiliary is hosting a Bake Sale in support of the Hospital on Saturday December 3. The event will be held in the Moore House at 170 Bridge Street starting at 9:00 a.m. until noon. All items available for purchase at the sale will be made by members of the Auxiliary. And finally, Our Gift Shoppe, located in the front lobby of CPDMH and operated by the CPDMH Auxiliary, has unveiled it Christmas merchandise. The Auxiliary encourages the community to stop by to purchase the perfect gift for someone on your Christmas list. R0011191290
November 24 2011 Canadian Gazette
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