kriscrossroads by Kris Ward
New Year, New City Happy New Year! As we bid adieu to 2012, it is a great time to reflect on the year that passed, resolutions made and the friendships forged and maintained throughout the year. Like many, the Christmas vacation was an opportunity to spend time with my son who has been away at college. It was an adjustment for both of us, and in the end a lot of quality time was spent together. After 3 weeks I was sad to see him go, but excited for all the new courses he will have and all the experiences winter semester will bring for him. Since I moved, this signified the first time I am away from my hometown for the holidays. I used to hear friends lament about being torn for the holidays and trying to squeeze in as much as possible, this year I can say I know how they feel. I wanted to stay in Kingston at my new place this year, but felt some guilt at not being in Cornwall. We had an early Christmas with the family, exchanged gifts and enjoyed a Christmas dinner together, which was a welcome surprise. My younger sister Melanie and her family had a real tree for the first time, and my niece and nephew were anxious to show it to us.
On Christmas Eve, Brad and I traveled back to Kingston and I was able to attend midnight mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Kingston. It was a beautiful evening but due to parking in an area I was not familiar with, I was a little anxious. I typed in the Google map app on my phone and asked Brad to co-pilot so I could get back home. There was a button for a beta version which I clicked and a voice came on that guided us through the downtown back to the street that lead me home. It was a welcome relief as it was now 1:30am in an area I did not know as the snow fell to the ground. Christmas day was also my first time preparing Christmas dinner. I invited my niece to join us since she is also now a resident of Kingston and we welcomed her company. I don’t think there is a dish I didn’t use, and thanks to my recent move, I knew what I had. I have less, but I use them more. The major storm that closed down many businesses and brought traffic to a halt, also curtailed my plans to return after Christmas. Luckily we pay attention to storm warnings and didn’t venture out. In fact, we made it our comfy day where we stayed home and watched movies and shows together. It was awesome. The friendships you make in high school can carry throughout your life. I have maintained friendships with many of my former high school friends and with my move to Kingston, I have been lucky to connect with some of my best friends who now live here too, and it is making me feel welcome and not so alone. New Year’s Eve was spent with one of my high school friends, Kim and her girls. We played board games and enjoyed a quiet night at her place. Another high school friend also named Kim has also reconnected with me and invited me to her place and introduced me to her circle of friends. This year, I did not make any special resolutions; 2012 was all about change, and now I’d like to settle in a bit more and enjoy my new surroundings, while still maintaining my close ties to my home town. Yes 2012 was a great year filled with changes and opportunities. What does 2013? I vow to make the best of every situation, not compromise my beliefs and be the best person I can be. Last year at this time if someone told me I’d be sitting in my new place in Kingston, I would have brushed it off as a crazy idea, yet here I am. Opportunities come along, plans change and life happens. Make the most of every day. Cheers to 2013!
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THE LOCAL SEEKER (January 11 - pg. 15)
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Coffee Grinds continued from page 3 Long term Health Care a hot topic! A well attended meeting lead by former City Councillor Mark MacDonald asked for a halting of the sale of the Second Street Hospital. I received two letters about this important issue, one from Ian Wilson, and another from former Mayor Brian Lynch. I would like to share both of them with you! Letters to the Local Seeker! My fellow citizens of Cornwall: I am appalled to hear that the Cornwall General Hospital is to be sold from under our nose, with no discussion with the public. The citizens of our city, through our taxes and fund raiser have bought this hospital many times over. Selling this hospital is total disrespect towards the good folks of Cornwall. Just over a year ago, during the provincial election. I listened to Jim McDonell, Mark MacDonald and Elaine MacDonald state during their debates, answering questions to the public, that health care and seniors is a top priority. Well, is it? Closing this center down will be a detriment to Cornwall and the elderly who, in our aging society, will require long term care today, and more so in the future. Transporting the elderly to homes outside the the region will cause great anguish to the patient’s and family members. I feel that discussion must take place with Champlain Local Integrated Health Network (LIHN) CEO Chantal Le Clerc, to look at other alternatives before any sale takes place. Perhaps a co-op could be formed with local investors to keep this facility operating for years to come. When public resources are sold off quickly and silently, it usually involves a sale that can be looked at suspiciously. It’s up to us, the citizens of Cornwall to stand up, and stand together to block any sale of the Cornwall General Hospital. Ian Wilson, Cornwall Ontario.
Dear Local Seeker: The current debate over the pos sible conversion of the Cornwall General Hospital site into a longterm care facility highlights the urgent need for more long- term care beds in Cornwall & SD&G to serve the needs of our seniors who make up 20% of the local population. At the present time, the wait time for a bed in a long-term care facility in our area is the highest in the province and double the provincial average. Indeed, 800 resi dents in our area of the province continue to wait for long-term care beds. In Ontario, there are now more than 30,000 persons on long-ter m wait lists for nursing homes. The 2012 Ontario budget contained nothing new to alleviate these wait lists which Health Quality Ont ario reports have tripled since 2005. And the population continues to age. The 2013 Ontario budget should provide funds for more long - term care beds across the province and especially in areas suc h as Cornwall and SD&G with our long wait times. Before the Cornwa ll General Hospital site is sold, the Champlain LHIN and the Ontario Min istry of Health and Long-term care should do a study on the pos sible conversion of the Cornwall General Hospital into a long-term care facility. We certainly can afford to provide good long-term care for our parents and grandparents. We can do it with a fairer tax system in Ontario. The Ontario Government should stop the corporate tax give aways that don’t create jobs and ensure that the large, profitable corp orations and the wealthiest one per cent pay their fair share of taxe s. If the corporate tax cuts were restored to the 2009 level, if the wea lthiest individuals earning more than $250,000 a year paid a two per cent surtax, and if tax loopholes were closed, billions of dollars wou ld be raised by the provincial government each year to pay for esse ntial public services like longterm care for seniors. By working tog ether, we can address the need for long-term healthcare in our reg ion and make our community a better and healthier place in which to live. Yours truly, Brian Lynch, President, SDSG Provinc ial NDP riding association. Excellent and very thoughtful letters Ian and Brian, thank you for sharing! MY NAME IS JASON SETNYK, AND THESE ARE MY COFFEE GRINDS! Jason Setnyk is a local high school teacher, journalist, published and award winning author, photographer, arts and culture event coordinator, and a community volunteer sitting on numerous boards and committees. http: //jason-setnyk.blogspot.ca
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