Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

On the agenda for Tuesday’s Westport Council meeting – mandatory wearing of face masks

There is no doubt that the outbreak of COVID-19 in Kingston last week has shed a spot light on how highly contagious this virus is and reminded us that it is becoming stronger, not weaker.  I spent much of the past 5 days talking to people – Westport business owners, community members, staff, mayoral colleagues, the Medical Officer of Health, AMO and ROMA – about mandatory wearing of face masks when inside businesses and government buildings.

I have encouraged the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) to assess the situation in Leeds, Grenville & Lanark similar to that in the Kingston region and issue a directive that makes the public use of cloth masks, if able, mandatory in indoor settings of commercial establishments.  The MOH’S region includes Leeds & Grenville and Lanark Counties.  At this time, Dr Stewart has not issued the directive.

I have asked CAO Snider to put this matter on the Agenda for Tuesday’s (July 7) Council meeting for Council to consider a by-law mandating the use of cloth masks in certain situations.   If you have strong feelings about this issue, please share your thoughts with me or the Councillor of your choice over the next few days to assist us in our deliberations.

Call any time – rjones@villageofwestport.ca    613-273-9195

Uncategorized

REMINDER – CANADA DAY ZOOM CALL WITH LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR, MPP CLARK AND MP BARRETT

Join us as we ZOOM to celebrate Canada Day at 9:30 a.m. on July 1st.  We will kick things off with announcing (and hopefully surprising!) the 2020 Westport Senior of the Year.  MPP Clark and MP Barrett will bring greetings from the provincial and federal governments and answer any questions that might be on your mind.

The Lieutenant-Governor will be joining us at 10:00.  Her Honour will bring Canada Day greetings from the Queen and entertain your questions.

Please register your email with Patti Mueller – pmueller@villageofwestport.ca – so you can be included on the call.  We may be in COVID-19 pandemic, but as Canadians, we know how to show our pride in our country.  Please join us on July 1st!

 

 

Uncategorized

COVID-19 – we are in it for the long game

On June 12, many regions in the province – including ours – moved into Stage 2 of the Province’s pandemic recovery plan.   Changes immediately implemented included outside patios, full services for retail businesses, outdoor recreation facilities and the size of a gathering increased from 5 to 10.  Travel restrictions within the province were removed.  All of these changes occurred with the continued use of guidelines put in place by the Health Units – physical distancing of 6 ft and when you can’t maintain that distance to wear a face mask and frequent hand washing.

The outbreak of COVID-19 in Kingston makes the point that this virus wants to come back into our community at any given moment.  Kingston’s region had been free from any positive tests since early May.  And yet it arrived with a fury this week.  At this point in time, there are 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19 that resulted from contact with individuals who worked or attended at one business. Hundreds of people have been lining up at the assessment centre in Kingston to be tested, many people are required to self isolate for 14 days.  The Board of Health for that region has ordered mandatory wearing of masks when inside any building other than a residence.

In March and April, people in the Village practiced physical distancing, hand washing and self-isolating.  Once Health Canada recommended wearing face masks, sewers in the village worked with a frenzy to make masks, turning out over 1500 in a few short weeks.  These masks are still  available at the pharmacy, Town Hall or my front verandah.

The primary purpose for wearing a mask is to prevent spreading the virus to someone else.  It helps keep people, including your loved ones, safe by stopping the spread.  The experts have stated that 40% of people who are likely to spread the virus are asymptomatic.  That means they don’t know they have the virus but have the potential to infect others.  Could that be you?  If you are concerned, contact the Health Unit or your medical practitioner to arrange a test.

We need to make sure that everyone is continuing to practice physical distancing of 6 ft and wearing a face mask when that is not possible and frequent hand washing.  These are our social norms and rules until there is a vaccine.

It’s time for us all to remain vigilant.  We can learn from the Kingston example.   COVID-19 is like an ember in our Village – hot, full of heat and can burst into a raging fire with the smallest poke.

COVID-19.  We are in it for the long game.

 

Uncategorized

Canada Day 2020 in Westport

Join Westport Mayor and Council for a ZOOM get together between 9:30 and 10:30 on July 1st.  Westport’s Canada Day ZOOM call will include the announcement of this year’s SENIOR OF THE YEAR.  Always a surprise!  

MPP Steve Clark will be joining the call to bring Canada Day greetings from the Ontario government and answer your questions.  He will be joined by Michael Barrett, the federal representative for the riding, who will bring greetings from the Canadian government and also answer your questions.

Another amazing guest will be sharing Canada Day with Westport.  Who do you think it is?  No.  Nope.  Not even close!  Another surprise! The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario will be ZOOMING in to join Westport’s Canada Day Celebration.  She will bring greetings from the Queen and wants to hear from you – your questions, concerns, family traditions for Canada Day and whatever else you want to share.

Here is what you can do to help prepare for the July 1st celebration:  

Step 1: If you are interested in joining Westport’s Canada Day ZOOM call, you need to register.  As you likely know, Zoom calls can be “bombed” by “trolls”.  The way to avoid this is to register by sending your request to Patti Mueller – pmueller@villageofwestport.ca.  You will receive your invitation for the call closer to July 1st.  If your email or cell phone number is not registered, you will not be given access to the Canada Day ZOOM call on July 1 st.

Step 2: Both MPP Clark and MP Barrett will answer your questions during the first half hour of the call.  To help you prepare for the Lieutenant Governor’s visit, is there a question you would like to ask her?  Your children might want to ask how she fulfills her role as the Queen’s representative for Ontario.  You might want to share with her and get her response to “If I was Lieutenant Governor for one day, I would…”  Your family might want to tell her what you enjoy the most about living in Westport or Ontario or Canada.  Let’s put Westport on Her Honour’s list of the most patriotic communities!

Step 3:  The Mayor will be hosting the call and will try to get all your questions answered.  It would help if you cold limit your question to under 1 minute.  Let Patti know before the ZOOM call that you want to be called upon to ask your question and she will provide Mayor Jones with your name.

Step 4:  Decorate your home or business in red and white.  Raise the Canadian flag and show your pride to be a Canadian.

We can’t congregate on July 1st, but we can CELEBRATE CANADA DAY!