Tag Archives: Westport

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Significant Increase in COVID-19 cases

The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit has recorded a significant increase in COVID-19 positive cases in the region with over 100 new cases since December 1st, and 81 active cases reported Friday.  They have also been notified that the new COVID-19 variant may be present in some of the cases and are waiting for whole genome sequencing to confirm it. 

The province is reporting large increases in cases daily.  1600 new cases were reported yesterday.  1500 on Friday and 1350 Thursday.  There have been outbreaks in neighbouring communities of Perth and Kingston.  South Crosby Public School is closed due to outbreak.

It is important to follow public health precautions to protect ourselves, our family and friends, our community, and  keep our schools and workplaces safe and open, and prevent further impact on our healthcare resources.

We all know how to keep the Village safe.  Here is a reminder:

  • Keep to small social gatherings with vaccinated people. If there are unvaccinated people, then they should wear a mask and keep 2 m distance from others.
  • Wear a mask when in public places and keep a 2 m distance from others.
  • Stay home if sick (even with mild symptoms), and get a PCR test if COVID-19 symptoms develop.
  • If there is possible exposure to someone with COVID-19, isolate and get a PCR test.

Each municipality is required to have a Community Emergency Control Group (CECG).  CAO Paul Snider, as the Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC) chairs this committee.  The CECG met regularly from April 2020 until October 28, 2021 and during that time there was a Municipal Emergency Order.  The CECG met on Friday afternoon and recommended that the Municipal Emergency Order be put into effect immediately.  This will position the municipality if any decisions need to be taken, particularly over the Christmas break.  The emergency was declared, however no other actions were taken.

The Health Unit is hosting a vaccination clinic on Tuesday, January 11 at the Legion.  For the information of those who got their 2nd shot at the community clinic on July 5, you will be eligible for your booster.   You can also book vaccinations and boosters with Tracy Phillips at the pharmacy. Here is the link for the Health Unit.

https://portal.healthmyself.net/northgrenvillecovid19assessmentcentre/guest/#/1do/book/type

We have been here before and we know how to pull together.  Please be smart, be safe and be kind.

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Give the Gift of Light this Christmas

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. ”    Albert Schweitzer

As we near the end of Year 2 of COVID-19, it has never been more important to provide support and love to our neighbours.  The coronavirus pandemic is an epidemiological and psychological crisis. The enormity of living in isolation, changes in our daily lives, job loss, financial hardship, and grief over the loss of contact with loved ones has the potential to affect the mental health and well-being of many of us.  Loneliness, anxiety, depression are some of the issues that our friends and neighbours are struggling with.  Even in this time of physical distancing, it’s critical to seek social support and connection with others.

We can do something in Westport that will make a big difference in the lives of our residents, business owners and visitors.   Again the year, from Dec 12 – Jan 2, we are encouraging everyone to light up the streets by adding Christmas lights to their homes and businesses.  We can give the Gift of Light to our neighbours.

There is a supply of lights, spots and other decorations at Town Hall. If you would appreciate some support for additional lights, call Town Hall (613-273-2191) and speak to Mrs Patti Mueller who will help you.  

Many thanks to Les, Bev and the gang at Home Hardware who helped stretch our dollars and to our generous anonymous sponsors.

Thank you everyone for your commitment to community solidarity as we continue to tightly hold the safety blanket around the Village of Westport.

Be the Spark!  Give the Gift of Light this Christmas.

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WESTPORT BRAND EXPERIENCE

STEP TWO – November 2021 

Join in and help develop the new Westport slogan!  Your input is needed again this fall. 

Municipal branding is more than just a website and a logo. A brand is an experience, an emotion and a memory.  It communicates what makes Westport unique and appealing through a combination of visuals and words. A strong brand can help boost economic development, tourism and the sense of community that residents enjoy.

We began with community input by asking the public to describe, in three words or less, their Westport experience, an emotion or a memory.  If they were to describe their hometown to someone who had never visited, what word(s) sprang to mind. Well done, Westport!  You submitted over 250 suggestions.

From this list, members of Council and community representatives chose the top two.  The community members are Ken Rose (this year’s Westport’s Senior of the Year), Joel Kimmel (artist and member of the Westport Parks & Recreation and Harbour Advisory Committee) Christine Janeway (author, artist and the best Museum Curator ever) and Mary Chaikowsky (artist and member of the Friends of the Library).  You can watch how they arrived at their decisions by watching the November 18th Village You Tube channel.

The two words selected are: LAKESIDE with the most votes and  HERITAGE followed closely behind.  

This is now your opportunity to shape our Village’s slogan.  When you think of Westport in conjunction with the word LAKESIDE what phrase comes to mind?  Or, what phrase rolls around in your mind when you consider Westport and HERITAGE? And if your suggestion doesn’t have either thoughts of LAKESIDE or HERITAGE, no worries – send it along!  All suggestions will be considered by the committee.

Consider having this as a topic of conversation over the dinner table.  What are your children’s thoughts? Ask your neighbours if they have thought about a new Village slogan.  Perhaps discuss it with friends at church or the coffee shop.  The schools will be invited to get involved as well.

To get you thinking, Here are some slogans of other Ontario municipalities.

MUSKOKA – Once Discovered, Never ForgottenNORTH BAY – Gateway of the North
OSHAWA – Prepare to be AmazedTHUNDER BAY – Superior by Nature
GUELPH – Making a DifferenceAURORA – You’re in Good Company

Some considerations when writing a slogan: 

  1. Keep it short and simple.  It needs to be pithy – saying a lot with a little
  2. Focus on what makes us different
  3. Timeless
  4. Ensure it can stand alone
  5. Make it memorable by using rhyme, rhythm, and brevity 
  6. Be honest
  7. Have fun!

You can participate in STEP TWO from November 22 – December 13 in a variety of ways: 

  1. Use this survey monkey link:  

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GYPMHX8

  1. Send an email with your slogansuggestion to info@villageofwestport.ca, or
  2. Drop a note in the mail slot at Town Hall with your suggestion for the new Village slogan.

The committee of Councillors and community members will review the suggestions and make its recommendation to Council in late December.

STEP THREE – Winter 2022

The top selection from STEP TWO will be used to develop the new Village logo. More about that later. 

Have fun and thank you for getting involved!

Mayor Robin Jones & Council

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REMEMBRANCE DAY IN WESTPORT 2021

The Remembrance Day events kick off at 10:00 tomorrow morning at Town Hall. The Military from CFB Kingston is executing the “Freedom of Village”, similar to July 1, 2017 when we celebrated the Sesquicentennial. They will stop at Town Hall and then march through the Village making their way to the Memorial Gates and Lockwood Park.

The plaque on the Memorial Gates, which was donated by the Women’s Institute in 1924 to recognize the local men who died in WWI, has been restored to it beautiful original condition by the National Wall of Remembrance Association. Its rededication begins at 10:20. Joining Paul Herlehy, who represents the families, will be Michael Barrett, MP and the Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The Remembrance Day service follows the rededication.

Please join us and dress warm.

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Ontario Pausing the Lifting of Capacity Limits in Remaining Settings Where Proof of Vaccination is Required

New Release

Province’s Cautious Approach Key to Protecting Our Progress

TORONTO — The Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, is pausing the lifting of capacity limits in remaining higher-risk settings as outlined in A Plan to Safely Reopen Ontario and Manage COVID-19 for the Long-Term. This is being done out of an abundance of caution as the province monitors public health trends.

The phased and cautious approach to Ontario’s safe reopening includes ongoing monitoring and assessment of key public health and health care indicators. While Ontario’s hospital and intensive care capacity remains stable and the province continues to report one of the lowest rates of active cases in the country, certain public health trends, including the effective reproduction number and percent positivity have increased slightly over the past week.

An increase in cases was always expected as more people move indoors due to the colder weather and as the province eased measures. However, out of an abundance of caution, existing capacity limits and physical distancing requirements for higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required will remain in place to ensure the province has the required time to better understand any potential impact on hospitalizations and ICU admissions. These higher-risk settings include:

  • food or drink establishments with dance facilities such as night clubs and wedding receptions in meeting/event spaces where there is dancing;
  • strip clubs; and
  • sex clubs and bathhouses.

The government and the Chief Medical Officer of Health will continue to monitor the data for the next 28 days to determine when it is safe to lift capacity limits in these settings.

“Throughout the pandemic our government has taken a cautious approach to reopening, ensuring our hospital capacity remains stable and the province continues to report one of the lowest rates of active cases in the country,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “To protect our hard-fought progress and ensure we can continue to manage COVID-19 for the long-term, more time is needed before we can take the next step forward in our reopening plan.”

Ontario’s cautious approach is working, with weekly cases incidence rates still well below the national average and the province tracking below the lower range scenario for ICU projections outlined by the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table on October 22, 2021. However, the province has continued to be guided by the evidence, ensuring that key indicators continue to be assessed through each milestone of its plan to gradually lift public health and workplace safety measures.

“While Ontario has continued to make progress as a result of its safe and cautious approach to reopening, it is necessary to make this deliberate pause as we approach the winter holidays where more people will begin gathering indoors and where students will be returning to in-class learning in January after celebrating with friends and family,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health. “Over the coming weeks and months, we need to stay the course on reaching those who have not yet been vaccinated, follow public health and workplace safety measures, and continue to remain vigilant in order to minimize the transmission of COVID-19 and keep our communities safe.”

Ontarians are urged to remain vigilant and continue following public health and workplace safety measures in place and to get vaccinated if they have not done so already. Achieving the highest vaccination rates possible is key to reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission and significant surges in cases. Responses will continue to be tailored to local context, with the ultimate goal of limiting disruption to people and businesses across the province.