Tag Archives: Mayor Robin Jones

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HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS DAY – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is a crime and is taking place right here in Leeds&Grenville.  The Leeds&Grenville Human Trafficking Coalition is working hard to educate the public and provide prevention strategies.  If you would like more information or a presentation by the Coalition to your community or church group or school, contact Sarah at sarah@vslg.ca.  I am a member of the Coalition and encourage everyone to become better informed about the ways that our girls and boys are exploited and become victims of human sex trafficking.

Traffickers control people in many ways, including psychological manipulation, emotional abuse, lies, addiction, threats, violence, isolation, and taking control of ID/documents and money. Sometimes human trafficking is confused with human smuggling (across borders). In reality, most of the people sex trafficked in Ontario are girls and women who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. While human trafficking is a vastly under-reported crime, Ontario is a major centre for human trafficking in Canada, with about two-thirds of reported Canadian cases arising in Ontario.

 

Myths about human trafficking

Myth: Human trafficking is an international crime that involves sneaking someone across a border.

FACT: In most reported cases of human trafficking in Ontario, the person trafficked is from Canada and is recruited within Canada.

Myth: Human trafficking happens in developing countries, not in places like Ontario.

FACT: Human trafficking occurs throughout the world, including here in Leeds&Grenville.  Police report an increasing number of cases since human trafficking specific charges were created by the government and could be laid.  Human trafficking is an underreported crime, so the actual number of cases is likely much larger.

Myth: Sex trafficking can only happen to people who use drugs or have other serious risk factors.

FACT: While some groups have been identified as at-risk, there are also cases in which no known risk factors are present. In those cases, traffickers often target very young people and may build trust during a “grooming” period before exploitation begins.

Myth: If a person isn’t kept locked up or in chains they can always just leave.

FACT: Some people who are trafficked are controlled and monitored constantly and don’t have the opportunity to ask for help. Others may not realize or acknowledge what is happening to them or that it is a crime. In some cases, they may fear their trafficker or law enforcement too much to risk seeking help. They may also be manipulated to believe that the trafficker is the only person who cares about them and that they are best off staying with their trafficker.

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CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL “BUNDY” SEED 2018-19 CCHL2 GM OF THE YEAR WESTPORT RIDEAUS!

Well done, Bundy!  Well deserved recognition. Thank you for all you do for Westport.
Article: Dante De Caria | Graphic: Mark Kelly

“Ottawa, Ontario – The Central Canada Hockey League Tier 2 is proud to announce that longtime Westport Rideaus‘ General Manager Michael “Bundy” Seed is the winner of the 2018-19 CCHL2 GM of the Year award.

Seed, a Frankville native, is finishing off his 23rd season in the Westport Rideaus organization. He started his career with the Rideaus as an Assistant Coach under former Head Coach Jeff Snow in the 1995-96 season. In the 2000-01 season, he took over as the Westport Rideaus’ General Manager and has been there ever since, compiling 484 wins, five first place finishes in the EOJHL and one finals appearance.

This season, the first time winner of the GM of the Year award has helped the Westport Rideaus to their 20th consecutive playoff appearance after clinching a playoff berth last week. Westport is currently battling for the first place seed in the Richardson Division with the Perth Blue Wings, Brockville Tikis and Carleton Place Jr Canadians.

Smiths Falls Bears and Westport Rideaus’ Owner Joshua Filoso said that he is very deserving of this award.

“He has not only managed this team to the playoffs, but he has coached the Rideaus’ to a top playoff contender. The Smiths Falls Bears and Westport Rideaus could not be happier for Mike.”

“Bundy is a first class GM and overall first class guy. He’s well known around the league and around the hockey world. Bundy has put together a team that has the ability to hit the ground running once the playoffs start. In Westport, Bundy is not only the GM but the go to man for everything the Rideaus do and he does a fantastic job doing so,” said Filoso.

The Westport Rideaus’ have three more games left on their schedule. They will take on Brockville, Athens and Winchester in the final week of the season.”

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Possibility for Westport Ontario?

How is this for a 2022 goal for the new Council and Advisory Committees – Tourism, Economic Development, Parks&Recreation and Harbour and Westport in Bloom?  

Let’s work together.  Let’s develop partnerships.  Let’s become Canada’s choice for a vacation.

Westport named Ireland’s 6th best home holiday destination

Sunday, 20th January, 2019 9:53am

Westport named Ireland's 6th best home holiday destination

Westport town centre. Photo: Westport Tidy Towns

WESTPORT has been named Ireland’s sixth best home holiday destination.

The selection was made by readers of the Irish Independent as part of annual awards scheme.

Westport was described as ‘a small town with a big heart’ and the ideal location for a weekend away.

Placed ahead of Westport were Kerry, the overall winners, Galway  Cork, Wexford  and Donegal.

All of the selected destination were lauded for ‘doing tourism the right way.’

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Good Job MPP Clark on Freezing Tourism Sign rates for 2019

The 2019 annual fee for the Tourism-Oriented Directional Signing Program (TODS) was going to double and in some cases triple this year and many small and rural businesses said they would have to remove their highway signs.  The PCs have announced that they have frozen increases for 2019 and will phase them in beginning in 2020, which gives small businesses time to budget and plan.

The signs are key for these small and rural businesses to advertise on highways.  Villages, like Westport, feel the benefit of these signs as it draws tourists into the municipality who might  have passed us by.

Thanks for listening and acting Ontario government!

Here is the media release from MPP Clark.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2018

ONTARIO FREEZING TOURISM SIGN PROGRAM RATES FOR 2019: CLARK

(BROCKVILLE) – Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark says Ontario’s Government for the People is making life more affordable by bringing relief to tourism operators who rely on the province’s Tourism-Oriented Directional Signing Program (TODS) to generate a positive economic in the riding and across Ontario.

In April 2018, the Liberal government signed a contract with Canadian TODS Limited towards the end of their administration. The people of Ontario have expressed their concerns about this contract, and the significant fee increases being placed on small business owners across the province.

“I’m proud that our government has listened to small business owners and tourism operators, including those in Leeds and Grenville, who have expressed their concerns,” said Clark. “We have worked with Canadian TODS Limited – the third party responsible for the delivery and maintenance of the TODS program – to freeze all price increases for 2019.”

“Our Government for the People has heard clearly from tourism operators across the province about their concerns regarding the fee increases associated with the TODS program. The Liberal government deliberately froze prices for 10 years, ignoring the cost of inflation and completely failed to communicate with TODS customers,” said Michael Tibollo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “We are taking real action to ensure businesses and customers have time to adjust to the increased prices, and we look forward to continuing to work with Canadian TODS Limited over the coming year to look for ways we can help mitigate this price increase.”

The TODS program is designed to provide motorists with signage on provincial highways to direct visitors to tourist attractions, operations and services.

“Our Government for the People was elected on June 7 with a clear mandate to respect the taxpayers of this province and to restore trust and accountability in the province’s finances,” said Jeff Yurek, Minister of Transportation. “We heard loud and clear from small business owners across Ontario, and have fixed a problem that the previous government created. Today we’re providing relief to small business owners, as we do our part in promoting and strengthening tourism in Ontario.”

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