Health plan will have local impact: MPP

by Trina Berlo

The province released its plan for healthcare reform earlier this month, which Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson says will have an impact on the riding by helping to free up family doctors, divert non-emergency care away from hospital emergency rooms, and work through the backlog of schedules surgeries.

The release of the plan, Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care , is keeping with the Ford government’s priority to reform the healthcare system, said Saunderson.

“It’s a system that was under stress before the pandemic, and certainly, the pandemic has taken its toll as well,” he said.

Saunderson said the change that will have the biggest impact locally is with regard to pharmacists. As of January, pharmacists are able to prescribe medications for 13 common ailments as part of a strategy to free up hospital staff and give family doctors more time for appointments with patients who need more specialized care for more serious concerns.

He said in January, pharmacists wrote 40,000 prescriptions in Ontario.

As the program progresses, Saunderson said it is taking pressure off the doctors and emergency rooms.

“It’s relieving that pressure and it’s getting people the prescriptions they need much faster,” said Saunderson. It is having a big impact for all municipalities but particularly in rural Ontario. As we expand the family health teams there are still some areas where there are gaps.”

He said all municipalities in Simcoe Grey riding have been identified as high physician need and health teams in Collingwood and Alliston have been given the green light to recruit more physicians so they can expand, with the goal of ensuring each residents has access to a local family doctor.

(See “Plan” on page 3)

Since the launch of the Pet Pantry Service in 2020, over 1,500 meals have been delivered, a 105 per cent increase being observed in 2022 over 2021.

GTHS officials say they cannot continue to sustain operations in the current facility. Cats and dogs are recovering from surgical care in hallways, dogs are in crates in the garage, private conversations with clients in distress occur in public lobbies. Their 13 dog kennels are starting to deteriorate and parking is dangerous for both clients and team members.

GTHS is working toward opening the doors of the new Animal Centre facility in 2025.

Visit www.gths.ca, or contact hopetohome@gths.ca.

Saturday, Feb. 25

• The All Peaceful St. Luke’s team will once again be walking in Creemore in support of The Coldest Night of the Year, leaving from St. Luke’s at 2 p.m. This walk supports Home Horizon in Collingwood. Please contact Rev. Lorna May at 705-352-2759 for details on how to participate and donate. Donations may be made payable to The Coldest Night of the Year, and brought to the church.

• Creemore Farmers’ and Craft Market, in association with La Cucina and Doc Bells Hot Sauce, presents the first annual “Sweet Heat” hot wing eating competition at Station on the Green beginning at 11 a.m. Ten wings, 10 sauces, one champion. The grand prize is a flight of three hot sauces of the winner’s choice. Non refundable $25 entry fee due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 20. Sign up at shawnbell@docbellshotsauce.com. Competitors must sign in at 10:30 a.m. on the day of the competition. A tie will be decided in a wing-off.

• Join the Town of Collingwood, Landmark Bus Lines and Children's Treatment Network at noon for a free information session on TransitPLUS, a new service providing door-to-door accessible transit service for residents of Wasaga Beach, Clearview and Collingwood. Learn all about the program, take your time practicing on-boarding and off-boarding and even go for a ride! Light refreshments will be provided. Maureen Marcoux, 705-790- 9770.

Monday, Feb. 27

• Stayner Garden Club meets at Centennial United Church. Social at 7 p.m. Speaker: photographer Jason George. Bring a mug.

• VON SMART free fitness classes. Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Tuesdays at 11 a.m. at St. Luke’s Anglican Church Hall, Creemore. For community members looking to improve strength, balance and mobility. Ages 55+. Call for more information or to register: 705-355-2200.

Tuesday, Feb. 28

• The Station Café is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at Station on the Green, 10 Caroline St. E., Creemore. $2 fee for a bottomless cup of coffee or tea. Everyone welcome.

March

• Spring into wellness with The Creemore Sanctuary's new unlimited March yoga pass. Take part in as many as six classes each week, available at various times and levels. Email, call or visit our website for details. www.thecreemoresanctuary. com, thecreemoresanctuary@gmail.com, 705 888-7729.

• Creemore Minor Baseball House League registration is now open for 6U, 8U, 9U, and 11U! Go to www.creemoreminorbaseball.com to register for the 2023 season. Let's play ball!

Wednesday, March 1

• Schnitzel night (take-out, pick up Station on the Green) 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. La Cucina pork schnitzel, frites, slaw and dessert $20 plus tax and gratuities. Add mushroom sauce for $5, call or text 647-2675317 by Sunday, Feb. 26 to order.

Saturday, March 4

• Body 'n Balance Physio and Wellness Centre is celebrating six years serving the community! Join us at the Creemore Arena from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for a free family skate. Snacks, hot chocolate and coffee available for everyone.

Saturday, March 11

• The Duntroon Hall presents its annual Green Beer Day. 4 p.m. to midnight. $10 at the door. Music by DJ Stu as well as performances by the Beinn Gorm Highlanders. Food and drinks available for purchase. Everyone is welcome.

Wednesday, March 15

• Creemore Horticultural Society. Speaker Dugald Cameron “Lilacs.” Station on the Green at 7:30 p.m. for meeting. Doors open at 7 p.m. at 10 Caroline St. E. Come early for “social time.” Members and the public are invited to join us.

Thursday, March 16

• Creemore Legion - Corned Beef and Cabbage Take Out Dinner. Corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, coleslaw, bun/butter, pie. $20 per person. Call 705-466-2330 to order and schedule pick up time. Order before Mar 9. Pick-up between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Please social distance and have exact change.

Friday, March 17

• Celebrate St. Patrick's Day at Station on the Green, featuring Shipyard Kitchen Party and Strange Potatoes. 6 p.m. to midnight, doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $40. Available at ticketscene.ca/events/43490. Come get your green on and support your community hall.

Saturday, March 25

• Creemore Farmers’ and Craft Market Baking Contest. Four categories: Cookies, bars/squares, sugar-free cookies/bars, maple syrup or maple sugar as an ingredient. Entries in multiple categories welcome. Guidelines: Entries must be delivered in disposable packaging to the Station on the Green between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and include a minimum of 50 bite-sized cookies or pre-cut bars/ squares for sampling by the public, and one large cookie or square for display purposes and judging. Include ingredient list. Pre-register by emailing Karen.scully@hotmail.com or calling 416-4075132 after 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 18

• The Creemore Tennis Club AGM will be held at the Station on the Green at 1:30 PM. All are invited. There will be information at the meeting on this year’s lesson programs, coaching, tournaments and election of new board.

Wednesday, March 29

• Double Toonie Lunch returns to St. Luke's Anglican Church. The popular lunch event will have the same monthly format, held the last Wednesday of every month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., but will be by donation to the food bank.