Good News for North Queens - Winter 2023

WINTER

2023

Good News for North Queens

The Good News for North Queens community newsletter is published quarterly by the North Queens Medical Centre Association - Since 1998 Public submissions are welcome and should be sent to submissionsnqmc@gmail.com The deadline for next issue's submissions is February 15, 2024

Happy Holidays Y’all!

Happy Holidays everyone. It is one of the times of year that we stop and take stock of our family and beliefs. It is a time when we like to think of peace, blessings and sharing. The three major celebrations in the month of December are Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas.

These celebrations encompass family and gift giving. I want to encourage you to be thankful for the volunteers who take care of the necessary institutions in our neighborhood. What comes to mind is the Fire Department and First Responders, the Search and Rescue people, the Heritage Society, the Community Food Resource Network, the Home and School, the Hub, the North Queens Medical Centre Foundation and the North Queens Medical Centre Association. I apologize if I have left something out. Without the generous volunteer time of these people, these facilities would not continue in North Queens area. As you have seen over the past decade, many institutions such as the Legion, the Masons and some of our churches have closed their doors. It takes people to join in and volunteer some of their time in order to keep these necessary services available to the North Queens area. They cannot continue to operate without all of our help. I encourage everyone to think about how they can help out and to make plans to do so. What a great gift this will be to the North Queens area.

The two volunteer groups I am associated with are the North Queens Medical Center Foundation and Association. The foundation has one annual meeting to properly distribute any funds the investments have created. This money is given to the association under certain limitations. The association meets once a month to continue the necessity of seeing to the medical centre building which it leases to the medical providers working there. We do not meet during the summer months, and all members receive an agenda and the minutes from the last meeting before the next one. We also have an annual general meeting and invite the public to take part, sharing their concerns and ideas. These two groups ask people to make a three-year commitment to the group. If you feel you would like to volunteer your time and talents, please contact peter.worden.c@gmail.com 902 682-3122.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge a few institutions that have made generous donations to the North Queens Medical Centre Association. In the sadness of closing their doors, Mason Mechanics Lodge 78AF and AM and the Caledonia United Baptist Church made significant donations to the association. Also, Atlantic Elver made a very generous donation. These gifts have allowed the association to commit to the installation of a selfactivating industrial generator to supply the building with electricity when outages occur. This will allow the facility to remain open and continue the significant work done by the medical staff. Thank you also to the many residents who make donations on a regular basis. It all contributes to our being able to keep the Medical Centre in good repair. Please continue to surf the Facebook page for the ongoing fund raisers that the association has going.

I have done a brief write up of the December holidays practiced by various groups in our area. I hope that it is informative and helps to remind us all of how blessed we are to have continued services in our region. Happy Holidays everyone. I urge you to remember the movie on Paying It Forward.

Kwanzaa Created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga, Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community and culture. The ideas and concepts of Kwanzaa are expressed in the Swahili language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa.

Hanukkah Chanukah begins on the eve of Kislev 25 th and continues for eight days. On the civil calendar, it generally coincides with the month of December. Chanukah 2023 runs from Dec 7th- Dec 15th. In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in God. Against all odds, a small band of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God. When they sought to light the Temple's Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity. To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah lighting. The menorah holds nine flames, one of which is the shamash (“attendant”), which is used to kindle the other eight lights. On the first night, we light just one flame. On the second night, an additional flame is lit. By the eighth night of Chanukah, all eight lights are kindled. On Friday afternoon, care must be taken to light the menorah before Shabbat candles are lit, and the following evening they are to be kindled only after Shabbat has ended. Special blessings are recited, often to a traditional melody, before the menorah is lit, and traditional songs are sung afterward.

Christmas The word Christmas is believed to have first been used before the 12th-century in the form of Middle English’s “Christemass,” which translates to “Christ’s mass.” A mass is a church service or—more appropriately—a celebration. This means the true, literal meaning of the word Christmas is a celebration of Jesus Christ. So, then, why do we celebrate his birth?

If we look in the Bible, there are many verses that cover Jesus’ birth, but one of the verses that explains why we celebrate the birth of Jesus comes from Matthew 1:21 — “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Christians celebrate Christmas because we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, who was born to save us from our sins. This is the true meaning of Christmas. God loves us so much that He gave His only Son for our salvation. Because of this gift God so graciously gave the world, Christmas is a time to be thankful to Jesus for his sacrifice and to let him into our hearts. This means that we should be kind to others, spreading love, acceptance, and understanding.

We can often get wrapped up in the secular traditions of the holidays, but this Christmas, try to remember the real reason we hold this celebration. Act as Christ would and work to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most like He helped to save us from sin. Muslims and Sikhs celebrate in a similar manner, only their festival days tend to be in the spring and summer.

May we all put our best service forward to continue to create a vibrant, caring North Queens Region.

Peter Worden on behalf of the North Queens Medical Association.

Over one year ago Queens General Hospital Foundation and Queens County Transit created a partnership in which the Foundation offered financial support to individuals living in Queens County allowing them to access affordable transportation for medical appointments and treatments.

Through the fare subsidy support is made available to those struggling financially. This year we have seen this program grow and support those most vulnerable accessing the health care they need and require.

We are all very proud of the partnership and thank the foundation for the continued financial support. Times are tough for all citizens of Nova Scotia with the skyrocketing costs of fuel, rent and groceries. Many individuals are struggling to make ends meet, adding getting to medical appointments creates yet more burden and stress on many people, especially in rural communities such as Queens. Together we are building a stronger and healthier community one ride at a time!

Pictured are R-L Donna Croft, General Manager QCT Tara Smith, Past Chair QCT Gil Johnson, Queens General Hospital Foundation trustee

The John Cormac Carten Scholarship Foundation: Empowering Our Future We are thrilled to announce that the inaugural year of the John Cormac Carten Foundation Scholarship was an extraordinary success. Eleven students hailing from the North Queens district, all with an ambition for higher education, were awarded this unique scholarship. The total scholarship fund allocated to support our community’s bright minds amounted to a remarkable $11,000.

What sets these scholarships apart is their renewability, offering support not just for one year but potentially for up to four years. We warmly invite last year’s recipients to consider reapplying for their second year of studies.

For this year’s graduating class and returning applicants, we are excited to unveil our updated website, which went live on November 1, 2023. This platform is now ready to accept your applications. We encourage all eligible students to start the process as soon as those acceptance letters land in your mailbox.

To learn more about the John Cormac Carten Scholarship Foundation and to initiate your application, please visit us at cartenfoundation.com. Your journey toward educational excellence begins here.

Caledonia Neuro-diverse Connection Club Are you a parent or caregiver of a child with autism or autistic traits, who could benefit from a positive, fun, social experience with same-age peers? The Caledonia Neurodiverse Connections Club, delivered by Autism Nova Scotia, is a free program for youth on the spectrum ages 10-14.

Our weekly meetings offer structured, social interaction, including a round table check-in where participants practice sharing information and responding to others’ stories, a shared experience such as building a structure or solving a problem, and time to play board games or work on a craft. The Caledonia Neurodiverse Connections Club meets on Thursdays from 6:30-8pm at the United Church Vestry (1888 Hibernia Rd).

We are seeking members, volunteers, and donations to help support our program. Members will benefit from positive social experiences with peers and the opportunity to further develop social communication skills.

Volunteers can help with planning and supervising meetings, structuring meetings to meet participant needs, and planning and supervising quarterly outings. Donations of supplies and equipment such as board games, crafting materials, fidgets, and noise-cancelling headphones are also greatly appreciated.

To register or learn more about the Caledonia Neurodiverse Connections Club, please contact tteal@autismns.ca or call 782-414-0801. With the support of our community, we can provide a safe and supportive environment for neurodiverse youth to connect with their peers, improve their social skills, and reach their full potential.

North Queens Heritage Society It is a beautiful day here in North Queens, on this the 6th day of November. With any luck Mother Nature will continue to bless us with the sunshine and not so cold temps. Snow can wait for a while.

There isn't much news from the Heritage Society this time of the year. We are closed for the season, but anticipate another good year in 2024.

The winner of the BBQ that was on display at the Caledonia Exhibition for ticket purchase this year, was won by a Mr. Corkum, and unfortunately we don't know where he was from, but he came and picked it up I believe, on Saturday, the last day of the exhibition. Thank you to Mr. Corkum and everyone else who purchased tickets again this year, and thank you for your never ending support of our Heritage Museum. Those who bought the 2024 Calendars, the publications, and cookbooks, and the strawberry shortcakes. We do appreciate it.

Our Calendars are selling well. They, as well as the other publications, are still available at the Mary Lake Home Hardware, the Caledonia Pharmachoice, and the Caledonia Clover Farm...We thank these businesses for their support as well.

The Christmas season is rapidly approaching, and the shops are picking up with customers doing their shopping for family and friend gifts. As for myself, I am in the dark, as to what to get anybody for Christmas. I am sure it will come to me eventually. Right now I have other things that take up my time We would like to remind everyone that the Alton House replica is on the grounds.

Please visit us next June for a larger display about the history of the Hotel.

On behalf of us all at the North Queens Heritage Society, I want to wish each and everyone of you the best and merriest of Christmas magic. And the very best New Year in 2024. Remember it is not what's under the tree that is important but who's under the tree.

Quote for today.. You being kind won't change the world, but it will make someone's day better.

And it can make a sad soul smile in gratitude. So yes, it's still worth it to be kind.

God Bless...

Marilyn Woodworth, Secretary, North Queens Heritage Society

The Fall Season has found the NQFA busy as always, answering calls, training, meetings, fund raising and hosting community events.

The New NQ Firefighters Auxilary A number of meetings have been held for the purpose of developing a new group which will be engaged in supporting a wide range of activities at the Firehall. Applications are now available. This group is open to anyone over 19, men and women. If you are interested, please contact Chief Chris Wolfe. Phone: 902-682-7277 Fire Prevention Week A wide range of activities were held during Fire Prevention Week. As usual the week started with a worship service held at the Fire Hall with local congregations and the community participating. During the week a new initiative was tried that is, meetings were set up in facilities located in various communities in the area for the purpose of sharing information on fire prevention. During the banquet on Saturday recognition and awards were given.

Rookie of the Year: Paul Maisine Firefighter of the Year: Katherine Lohnes Officer of the Year: Boone Seddon

Donald Delong Award: Chris Wolfe Sarah & Dave Frail Award: Queena Waterman Truck Company of the Year: Rescue 31

Congratulations to all who received recognition for years served. Special recognition was awarded to Douglas Wolfe for 70 years of service. Congratulations Doug for your remarkable service to the North Queens community.

Remembrance Day As in other years, the NQFA has participated in the Community Remembrance Day Service. This year was the first year for a re-organized committee with chair Deanna Armstrong. A service was well attended at the Cenotaph followed by a lunch reception at the Firehall. The lunch was enjoyed by many. Thank you to all who helped plan and give leadership for these events.

Upcoming Christmas Carnival December 10 will be a fun-filled day for the community at the Firehall. Activities for the kids will start at 2pm, including an appearance by Santa Claus. Supper will be offered from 4pm to 6pm in the form of seafood chowder ($15) or sweet and sour meatballs ($10). A Parade of Lights will be happening through the village at 6pm.

Everyone is welcome!

Respectfully submitted, NQFA Chaplain Carol Smith

Light Up North Queens Outdoor Decorating Contest No Registration Necessary Our North Queens board of Trade elves will be travelling around the community on the weekend of Friday Dec 8th to Monday Dec 11th to view the beautifully decorated properties in our communities. Dress up your homeand/or yard to celebrate the holidays, and you may be one of the favourites to win.

Winners will be posted on Facebook, and on the bulletin board at Caledonia PharmaChoice. Prizes can be picked up at Caledonia PharmaChoice.All prizes will be gift vouchers from our local merchants!

Five 1st place winners of $100.00 Five 2nd place winners of $50.00 Five 3rd place winners of $25.00 Also, we are encouraging all local merchants to show the pride they have in their businesses, and support the community by participating in decorating their exteriors as well. Winners will get bragging rights.

As I sit here pondering what to write, I’m thinking of all the blessings we have in our lives.

Some folks have more than others, however, we all have something to feel blessed about.

Your family, your job, or perhaps, your pets. Down here in Hillbilly Holler we have 6 animals – 5 cats and an amazing guide dog. In addition to feeling blessed to have my wonderful fur bearing family (my husband included), I’m blessed to be serving the community in my capacity as Coordinator for the Community Food Resource Network.

At CFRN and Muriel’s Closet we have an incredible team of volunteers, and, we, as a community, should feel blessed to have them. We work hard!

The year is drawing to a close and soon Muriel’s Closet will shut down for our winter break. Some work will be done on the building and more work will be done inside to make Muriel’s better for you. Our last day at Muriel’s will be December 16th and that day we will draw for the beautiful coat rack valued at $300. That is also the final day to pick up fruitcakes ($10 each). You can purchase tickets for the coat rack at Muriel’s right up until December 16th or by dropping in to CFRN on Monday mornings. Tickets are also available from CFRN members. Tickets are $2 each or 3 for $5. In addition, we are having a 50/50 draw at Muriel’s on the day. Those tickets are only available at Muriel’s when we are open. By the time this newsletter goes to print we will be into December and our opening days that month are December 2nd and 16th, then we are closed until late February. That being said, we take donations of gently used items all year long. Drop off is at my garage on Westfield Road or at CFRN on Monday mornings.

At CFRN we are busy. Busy trying to keep our shelves stocked, run projects and busy creating a fun, happy place to be – Giveaway Monday is a blast! Our 4th anniversary is coming up on December 19th. Hard to believe. This year, Christmas day falls on a Monday so I think we will take that day off. There have not been many holidays where I’ve closed up shop but I’m afraid there’d be a mutiny if I looked for volunteers that day.

Once again we are running the “Reverse Advent” program in December. Advent sheets are available at Clover Farm, Home Hardware and Canada Post or by searching for it on our Facebook page. The premise behind the Reverse Advent is that you put a food item in a box for each of the 25 days in December and then you bring the box to us. Truthfully, most people enjoy doing this so much that they make the boxes up as soon as the posters are out and then being them in. We are always happy to receive these boxes and I love hearing how parents have asked for their children’s help in choosing the items for the box.

We are very thankful to each and every one of you who choose to support CFRN – either by a monetary donation, a Reverse Advent box or by donating items to Muriel’s Closet. True story – I had a fabulous conversation with a lovely lady while waiting at Queen’s General Hospital for an appointment last month. She asked what I did and I told her all about our work. Then she asked if I had a business card. A few days later an e-transfer showed up in my inbox with a lovely donation. How awesome is that!!! By the way, our address for e-transfer donations is resourcenetwork9868@gmail.com. We accept cash/cheque donations at CFRN as well as your refundables….yes, we take your refundables and turn them into cash for Muriel’s Closet.

Another lovely donation came our way in November. A huge thank you to the members of the Caledonia Baptist Church for the amazing donation they made to our group. The church has been sold and they chose CFRN as one of the beneficiaries. Community support like this is what keeps us going. How wonderful it was to accept this donation on behalf of our group. We’ve come a long way in the four years we’ve been in “business” and we’ve only just begun.

As winter moves in, concerns with food insecurity are always on our minds. Are we reaching enough people? Do people know we are here? Please get in touch if we can help. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/509688547518834 and send me a message. We ask for a valid NS health card for each member of your household but that’s our only requirement. We work on an appointment basis to try and maintain some confidentiality and to keep the work flow moving smoothly.

I sit down at my desk wondering what I’m going to write and then, boom, I’m out of space.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Until next time, be kind to each other, Dianne Huskins, Coordinator

Members of the Caledonia Baptist Church present a donation cheque to Dianne Huskins

Muriel Canning’s recent visit to Muriel’s Closet

The Tovertafel is an innovative product designed in the Netherlands.

The Tovertafel is a projector console that transforms a table into an interactive “magic table”, through the use of infrared technology. The interactive “magic table” provides stimulating games and activities for people with varying degrees of dementia.

Activities are provided for 4 different levels of interaction, from mildly impaired to significantly impaired.

Some activities are continuous such as raking leaves, popping bubbles, catching butterflies or fish; some have a beginning and an end such as coloring and puzzles, and or those that like a little competition, there are even competitive challenges such as soccer.

The reported benefits of the Tovertafel for the residents include: Break-through of apathy Increased physical activity Reduced negative emotions, increased positive emotions Reduced agitation and tense behaviors Increased social activity and more enjoyment

Pictured are Gil Johnson,, Queens General Hospital Foundation and Lisa Gallant, Executive Director, NQNH

It has been reported that the Tovertafel helps to bring connection to visits with family and friends when the stages of dementia make conversations a challenge, allowing for social activity to enhance a quality visit. NQNH has a specific secure unit that is Home for 15 people – these residents present with dementia, behavioral challenges and/or risk of elopement. While residents on any of our units may have a diagnosis of dementia, the secure unit is home to those with more advanced dementia and provides a safe and secure unit for those that wander. The Tovertafel has been a wonderful addition to this unit. It provides opportunities at any time of day for these residents. The activities may be stimulating, calming or soothing and can be played individually or as a group to promote socialization. The Tovertafel has been a positive addition, providing the benefits as noted above, overall helping to improve quality of life for these residents.

We thank the Queens General Hospital Foundation for allowing this opportunity to happen.

Advance Care Planning The unthinkable has happened – you have suffered a stroke that has left you unable to talk or communicate and unable to walk. Your family is facing questions about your care – you require a feeding tube for nutrition and may need placement in a nursing home. Is that what you want? Does your family know what you want? Advance Care Planning is a process of reflection and communication regarding your own medical care. It is taking the time to reflect on your values, beliefs and wishes for care in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself. More specifically, it is reflecting on your wishes for care such as what is acceptable for you for your quality of life – is it being able to communicate with friends and family? Independence? Being able to live at home or long term care?

It involves choosing someone who is willing and able to make those decisions for you if you are unable to speak for yourself. The other key component is communicating what those wishes are to your “delegate” as well as to those close to you and your medical team.

Sometimes this is done when we are faced with a serious diagnosis , but it would be best if we all did this. It is a topic that is much more easily discussed when one isn’t stressed by a serious diagnosis and “what lies ahead”.

Wishes can be changed at any time and should be reviewed regularly. The important thing is to communicate those wishes. It is also essential to write your wishes down. This is known as a personal directive in Nova Scotia.

These written instructions can be very detailed or very broad and name who your delegate is. The 5 key steps to advance care planning are: Think about what is right for you. Reflect on your values and understanding of your medical condition and medical procedures that might be required. What types of things make you happy and provide good quality of life?

Learn about your medical condition and related medical procedures. You may have a list of questions to ask your health care provider about your medical condition – what to expect as time goes on, what to expect if you choose to do nothing.

Choose someone who will make decisions for you if you are unable to do so yourself. This should be someone you trust that is able to make difficult decisions and communicate those.

Talk about your wishes with your delegate, your family/loved ones and your family doctor/nurse practitioner. This may seem like a difficult conversation, but will actually give you and your family peace of mind.

Record your wishes. See www.novascotia.ca/just/pda for examples.

Advance Care Planning is something that we hope is never needed, but none of us can determine that. It is a gift to your family to know what you want and gives them and you peace of mind.

For more information: Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care www.nshpca.ca www.advancecareplanning.ca

News from North Queens Active Living Work has been completed to the walking track at Harmony Park. Stop by, check out the new entrance, and enjoy a peaceful walk on the newly renovated track. Watch for an upcoming naming contest!

Our Gentle Yoga for seniors has begun we were able to provide a free 8 week session for 15 participants. A new session with Kisari Yoga will beginning in January 2024.

14+ Ball hockey is happening Thursday nights starting at 7pm at the NQCS gym. Watch for more evening sports to begin soon!

A few senior “Out ’n’ About” events are in the works, keep an eye on our North Queens Active Living Facebook page for more details.

The North Queens Community School Parent Committee is facilitating a FREE Christmas Store on Dec 15 & 18 during school hours.

Every elementary student will have an opportunity to shop for a loved one or two!

We are collecting a variety of gently used items and supplies for this project. Options suitable for all ages are encouraged, as many students choose to shop for the adults in their lives.

Donations, including wrapping paper, ribbon & gift bags, may be dropped off at the school or at Coast II Coast Gas Station in Caledonia.

Thank you for supporting this event!

People living in and around Caledonia, Queens County, will have access to a new, modern long-term care facility with the replacement of the North Queens Nursing Home.

The new North Queens Nursing Home, which is expected to open in 2032, will provide care to about 48 seniors.

Kim Masland, Minister of Public Works and MLA for Queens, on behalf of Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Barbara Adams, made the announcement today, November 28.

“At some point, almost of us will have a loved one in need of long-term care,” said Minister Masland. “We are planning today to ensure that the appropriate facilities are in place so that everyone we care about can have a safe and welcoming place to receive the care they need, when they need it.”

The new facility is part of the recent addition of 2,200 rooms to the Province's long-term care infrastructure plan. This plan expansion includes new long-term care homes that will add about 800 rooms to the long-term care system and the replacement of older homes with new, modern facilities that will have about 1,400 rooms. All of these new homes are expected to be ready by 2032. The original plan included homes with about 3,500 rooms expected to be ready by 2027. Together, these new spaces will help to meet the care needs of the province's aging population.

All new living spaces will be single rooms, each with its own private washroom. The government is contracting with several long-term care providers for new facilities and to replace existing ones.

More announcements about locations of new and replacement rooms will take place in the coming weeks.

Information and progress updates on all 5,700 rooms are available at: https://novascotia.ca/long-term-care-roomsprogress-updates/ Building and improving more long-term care rooms is part of Action for Health, the Province’s strategic plan to improve healthcare. Building and renovating new facilities with single-bed rooms and ensuring seniors live with dignity and can age well are also commitments in the Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister’s mandate.

Quotes: I am thrilled to receive the news of a replacement facility for North Queens Nursing Home. This will ensure even greater opportunities to provide the care our residents deserve in a modern facility designed at the current standards.

It is great to see the investments for our residents, our staff and our community.

Lisa Gallant, Executive Director, North Queens Nursing Home Quick Facts: the long-term care infrastructure plan was announced in January current wait lists for long-term care spots vary across the province; as of November 15, there were just over 1,700 people waiting at home for placement in long-term care of those waiting at home, more than 70 per cent receive home care seniors make up close to 22 per cent of Nova Scotia’s population; this is expected to climb to more than 25 per cent by 2032 the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment, Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care, and the continuing care sector are working together to recruit the staff needed to support the delivery of care that will be required for these new rooms Additional Resources: News release – Province Adding, Replacing More Long-Term Care Rooms: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/? id=20231120001 News release – First Long-Term Care Replacement Home Opens: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/? id=20230929006 News release – Construction Beginning on Long-Term Care Homes in Central Zone: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230517001 News release – Province Building More Long-Term Care Rooms: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/? id=20230111001 Action for Health, the government’s plan for transforming the healthcare system: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth Mandate letter for the Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-SLTC.pdf