St. Thomas - Elgin Weekly News
Spreading awareness about mental health issues they saw me on TV and how great I was, and I felt like nothing.” But it wasn’t that simple. Months passed and Hughes fell into a “I came home from my first Olympics state of depression, feeling ashamed of who with two bronze medals and I thought she was and what she was going through. this is going to make all these feelings go “Because everybody always expected me away,” she said. “Everyone was telling me to be strong and fast and good and be that athlete who won those medals, I felt I couldn’t show myself and I had to hide myself until I made myself better,” she said. After finally talking to a doctor, Hughes realized she was not alone, that one in five Canadians at the Seniors Centre deal with mental health issues. Now, at every stop along her on Friday March 28th journey, Hughes wants to tell peo9:30am-2:30pm for community presenters, displays and door prizes. ple to stop the stigma associated Free Lasagna Lunch with mental health. People shouldn’t be discrimiOpen to all Seniors nated against for having a menPlease register by calling 519-633-2850 tal illness, and people affected shouldn’t feel shame that prevents St. Thomas Seniors’ Recreation Centre them from getting help. 225 Chestnut, St. Thomas
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Seniors
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“We need to be more compassionate with each other,” she said. “You shouldn’t be ashamed of struggling or going through something like depression.” Mark Nouwen, 35, grew up in Elgin County and has been dealing with issues of depression and anxiety for more than 20 years. He moved to St. Thomas in September, and has been getting help from the mental health program at the St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, which started in January. “Once I started coming here, I found the service by everyone, from the therapists, reception staff to the doctors, has been nothing but stellar. They’re very compassionate, kind, very knowledgeable and understanding,” he said. “Once you realize there are millions of other Canadians dealing with this, then the stigma becomes less. Mental health is just as much a crisis as cancer or heart disease ... It’s huge someone like Clara would put herself in the spotlight and share part of her story. It’s only when we
share our stories we begin to learn we are not alone.” Hughes made another appearance the following day at the Talbot Teen Centre before hopping on her bike again to head for Chatham. Hughes is being followed across Canada by a bus driven by St. Thomas resident Abe Thiessen. The bus carries Hughes’ gear, clothes, food, and other things she needs. Thiessen has been a Greyhound bus driver for five years. He said he’s proud to be a part of this tour that’s about ending stigma because he’s seen for himself how people in his own family have been mistreated because of mental health issues. “My wife supports this. I’ll be gone on the road for 110 days and she supports it 100 percent because she has personally seen the discrimination that takes place,” he said. “This one really hits close to my heart.” Follow Hughes’ progress on her Twitter account, @ClaraHughes_.
Brewing up more jobs in St. Thomas the province at our 47 licensed microbreweries.” literally a made-in-Ontario success Railway City wasn’t the only local story that generates over $200 mil- company to benefit. It was also anlion into the Ontario economy. We’re a nounced Lumar Machining and Manuglobal leader in this sector, producing facturing in St. Thomas would be supover 140 different styles of beer across ported with $374,472 for its business expansion, which would create eight new jobs and retain 14. MPP Jeff Yurek Constituency office will be hosting a Cooper-Standard Autonumber of “Tax Preparation Services.” Experienced CGA motive Canada Limited in volunteers will be on site to help you prepare your 2013 Glencoe received $489,833 income tax return, free of charge.
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The Weekly News - Thursday, March 20, 2014
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Tax Preparation Services
Items you should bring with you: 1. 2012 Notice of Assessment 2. Copy of 2012 income tax return 3. All information slips received from employment, pension and investment income (T4s, T5s,T3s etc.). 4. Receipts for charitable donations, medical expenses, RRSP contributions, child care receipts, tuition fees etc. 5. Details of spouse’s and/or dependent’s income Dates and Times: Sat. March 29 10:00am-4:00pm • Wed. April 2 5:30pm-8:00pm Wed. April 9 5:30pm-8:00pm • Sat. April 12 10:00am-4:00pm Wed. April 23 5:30pm-8:00pm Location: 750 Talbot Street, Suite 201, St. Thomas By Appointment Only. Please contact Whitney at 519-631-0666 or whitney.mcwilliam@pc.ola.org.
to help launch a new production line, while creating 26 new jobs. “I would say that 20 new jobs in St. Thomas is important to the local community,” Hoskins said. Since October, 2012, the government has committed $36 million through Southwestern Ontario Development Funding, helping to create or protect approximately 9,000 jobs across southwestern Ontario. Most of those jobs are in the manufacturing industry. Railway City moved to its larger facility in June, a step up Tri-Axle Driver Required from the 2,500-square-foot size of its previous location. for the London and “New equipment allows us to produce high-quality, consistent St. Thomas area. beer with the finest ingredients, D-Z license with a good many produced locally,” said John Peart, president of Railway drivers abstract required. City. “Over the past three years Email resume to our customers have had to suffer sbconstruction@amtelecom.net. through many shortages of their favourite beer ... This expansion Fax to 519-764-2613 or call will prevent that from happen519-764-2617 ext 115. ing in 2014.”
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