Municipality of Whitestone

Publication Date:  Saturday, May 9, 2020

Economic Development Newsletter - May 2020

Having trouble making sense of the COVID-19 government support programs for businesses?

These are difficult times that cause concern and anxiety for many people, especially business owners whose livelihood, and the livelihood of their staff, is seemingly uncertain at this time. It can be challenging to navigate through the constantly changing information and resources coming in from all levels of government. The West Parry Sound Economic Development Collaborative has put together a resource intended to help centralize some of the most commonly searched business resources. We encourage you to visit the links provided in this newsletter, as they are being updated to reflect new programs and initiatives for businesses.

Publication Date:  Monday, April 27, 2020

Mayor's Update for our Seasonal Community - April 28, 2020

Publication Date:  Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Support Resources available to you:

Video-based peer support groups - www.huddle.care/covid/
Chat Counselling Service - www.hopeforwellness.caor 1-855-242-3310
Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - https://bit.ly/MindBeaconCOVID
Mental Health & Substance Use Support - https://ca.portal.gs/
Peer-to-peer support community - www.bigwhitewall.com

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - (705) 746-4264 / www.mps.cmha.ca
After hours crisis line 1-888-893-8333

B’Saanibamaadsiwin – Aboriginal Mental Health, Parry Sound – (705) 746-2512

Publication Date:  Wednesday, June 3, 2020

If you are planning a visit to some public spaces and trails please be sure to continue physical distancing while enjoying the outdoors. Maintain your distance by stepping aside when you meet others on the trails and limit groups to no more than five people or one household.

Remember most public washrooms closed.

If you are exhibiting mild symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and visit www.ontario.ca/coronavirusto take the self assessment or contact the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit www.myhealthunit.ca.

Publication Date:  Thursday, April 9, 2020

Assisting with Online Grocery Orders

We are here to assist residents within the Municipality of Whitestone during the COVID-19 pandemic, who do not have internet access or, just need assistance in filling out the online form to purchase groceries at Sobeys in Parry Sound.
Residents of the Municipality of Whitestone can call one of the two phone numbers below for assistance in placing an online grocery order.

Deb Taylor Comrie 705-773-3687
Rebecca Green 705-773-2091

The volunteers will provide assistance in placing the order online. After the order is placed, the resident will receive a phone call from Sobeys to verify the order and make arrangements for payment.
The resident can make arrangements for pickup, drive to Parry Sound and pickup the groceries outside of the Sobeys store or, make arrangements for delivery.

If you have any questions or need more information please contact:

Bob Whitman Fire Chief
705-774-1967

Publication Date:  Thursday, April 16, 2020

Reducing your shopping trips for essential items such as groceries and pharmaceuticals to once per week will limit your contact with employees and other community members at the stores.

Do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

#TogetherApart

Publication Date:  Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Visiting a public space? Maintain a safe physical distance of half a canoe length (2m / 6ft) apart from other people. 

*If you encounter a canoe up close, we recommend keeping electronics further than 2m away, and wearing a life jacket, they are very tippy*

Publication Date:  Thursday, May 21, 2020

MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASe

WHITESTONE continues to waive penalty and interest charges on unpaid 2020 taxes

WHITESTONE ON. – The Municipality of Whitestone continues to assist residents and business owners who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.  The following resolution was unanimously passed at the Council meeting of May 19, 2020

THAT the Council of the Municipality of Whitestone does hereby extend waiving of penalty and interest charges on the first installment of unpaid 2020 municipal taxes that were due March 26th, 2020 (as per Council resolution 2020-078) from May 28, 2020 until August 27th, 2020;

AND THAT the Council of the Municipality of Whitestone does hereby waive penalty and interest charges on the second installment of unpaid 2020 municipal taxes due May 28, 2020, until the first installment of the final tax bill is due on August 27, 2020. 

AND THAT these waivers do not apply to unpaid municipal taxes that were due prior to March 26, 2020.

AND THAT Council consider the need to extend these waivers prior to August 27, 2020.

 “By waiving penalty and interest charges, we hope to reduce a measure of financial stress for our ratepayers and allow them to focus on staying safe and healthy.” said Mayor George Comrie.  “We recognize this crisis has created economic challenges for many”.

Because property taxes make up the majority of the Municipality’s annual revenue, we encourage those who can afford to pay their taxes on time to please do so. The next property tax installment is due on Thursday, May 28th.

For up-to-date information on COVID-19 in the District of West Parry Sound, visit please visit https://www.parrysound.ca/en/inside-town-hall/coronavirus-covid-19.asp

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For further information please contact the Municipal Office:

Publication Date:  Thursday, March 26, 2020

We are hoping everyone is staying safe and practicing social distancing in this very crucial time in curving the spread of COVID-19.  This link from the Public Health Agency of Canada about COVID-19 is a very informative video.  Please watch, share and take care.

Publication Date:  Sunday, May 3, 2020

The Parry Sound Rotary Club has partnered with Parry Sound Sobeys to provide a volunteer run grocery assistance program for seniors and those needing to self-isolate during COVID-19.

Check out this video about the program - https://youtu.be/JHwimNreDBU

For grocery assistance visit www.parrysound.ca/help or call (705) 966-0716

Publication Date:  Thursday, March 26, 2020

All area residents can now get help with pick up and delivery of groceries or prescription drugs through the Parry Sound Area Help page. If you know of anyone that could use these services, please pass on the following link. Lets flatten the curve together!! https://parrysound.ca/help

Publication Date:  Wednesday, May 13, 2020

HEALTH UNIT REMINDS THE PUBLIC TO CONTINUE TO PHYSICALLY DISTANCE AND FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES

NORTH BAY, ON - As Ontario plans for stage one of the Framework for Reopening our Province and the warmer weather approaches, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is reminding the public to continue to follow public health measures for COVID-19.

“People within our communities have been doing a great job at flattening the curve and helping to save lives. I understand with stores starting to open and nice weather forecasted for the long weekend people are going to want to get outdoors, but please continue to physically distance and follow public health measures,” says Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health.

Public health measures include:

• Staying home as much as possible
• Practice physical distancing – staying 2 metres from others who do not reside in your home or where you are living
• When physical distancing is hard or not possible to maintain in public wear a facial covering
• Gatherings of people remain at five or less (with the exception of an immediate family that lives in the same dwelling that has more than five people) 
• Washing or sanitizing your hands often
• Cough and sneeze into your sleeve
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
• Clean high touch objects and surfaces often

Currently, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19. It is important to remember that most people with COVID-19 have no symptoms or mild symptoms. People who are mildly ill should isolate and care for themselves at home. Most will recover in one to two weeks by simply treating the symptoms.

If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario's Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care. If you need further assistance call your health care provider or the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808. If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you should call 911 and mention your symptoms.

Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.

For more information please visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.

Publication Date:  Saturday, April 4, 2020

After the initial contact with the Ministry Program Supervisor for the Student Nutrition Program, the SNP program was given the ok to roll out our plan to help support children and youth in our community. We are offering assistance to children, youth and their families beginning Monday March 30th in the District of Nipissing, Muskoka and Parry Sound.  We want to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our community during this difficult uncertain time as schools are closed and children and youth are still hungry.

With the collaboration of our generous funders, many partners and the Ministry funding, we agreed to act quickly to ensure that children and youth in our community continue receiving breakfast foods.

Families who wish to receive supports through the SNP are being asked to reach out to us and register. Registration data will include names, addresses, postal codes, telephone numbers, number of children and the school the children attend.

Requests can be sent to: studentnutrition@communitylivingnorthbay.org or by phone at 705-476-3288 ext. 1611

Publication Date:  Sunday, May 10, 2020

DONATIONS NEEDED - Scrubs, Lab Coats and N95 Respirators.

West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHC) is asking community members to donate any ‘scrubs’ or lab coats they might have at home.

Under normal circumstances, the health centre would have capacity to supply all appropriate staff with hospital-issued scrubs, but there are currently not enough to go around, and these items are on back-order.

All donated scrubs and lab coats will be laundered and made available to clinical staff, separate from the health centre’s ‘usual’ supply to decrease the chance of people taking the virus out of the health centre.

The WPSHC is also in need of N95 respirators, if you have extras (expired is ok) donations would be appreciated.

Visit www.parrysound.ca/coronavirus for a list of drop off locations throughout West Parry Sound.
(Please use specified locations, do not deliver to the Health Centre)

Caring for kids during a pandemic is challenging. www.covidwithkids.org is one of the many online resources available to you. It provides suggestions for activities to keep your kids occupied and resources for supporting your children’s mental health during COVID-19.

Publication Date:  Thursday, March 26, 2020

Covid-19 Assessment Centre

Health Unit Update

Publication Date:  Wednesday, June 3, 2020

COVID-19 is spread through contact with the respiratory droplets produced by infected individuals when they cough, sneeze, or even when they laugh or speak, including by individuals who have not yet or who may never develop symptoms.

Wearing a non-medical mask or cloth face covering when you are out in public or when keeping a physical distance of 2 metres / 6 feet is not possible is an additional measure you can take to help protect those around you, even if you have no symptoms.

Publication Date:  Sunday, May 3, 2020

If you or your pet have been exposed to COVID-19, Public Health Ontario has tips for how to care for your pet(s) to help prevent spreading the virus - https://bit.ly/2KPrndS

Publication Date:  Saturday, May 9, 2020

Economic Development Newsletter - May 2020

Having trouble making sense of the COVID-19 government support programs for businesses?

These are difficult times that cause concern and anxiety for many people, especially business owners whose livelihood, and the livelihood of their staff, is seemingly uncertain at this time. It can be challenging to navigate through the constantly changing information and resources coming in from all levels of government. The West Parry Sound Economic Development Collaborative has put together a resource intended to help centralize some of the most commonly searched business resources. We encourage you to visit the links provided in this newsletter, as they are being updated to reflect new programs and initiatives for businesses.

Publication Date:  Saturday, April 4, 2020

After the initial contact with the Ministry Program Supervisor for the Student Nutrition Program, the SNP program was given the ok to roll out our plan to help support children and youth in our community. We are offering assistance to children, youth and their families beginning Monday March 30th in the District of Nipissing, Muskoka and Parry Sound.  We want to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our community during this difficult uncertain time as schools are closed and children and youth are still hungry.

With the collaboration of our generous funders, many partners and the Ministry funding, we agreed to act quickly to ensure that children and youth in our community continue receiving breakfast foods.

Families who wish to receive supports through the SNP are being asked to reach out to us and register. Registration data will include names, addresses, postal codes, telephone numbers, number of children and the school the children attend.

Requests can be sent to: studentnutrition@communitylivingnorthbay.org or by phone at 705-476-3288 ext. 1611

Publication Date:  Wednesday, April 1, 2020

DONATIONS NEEDED - The WPSHC has an immediate need for Scrubs, Lab Coats and N95 Respirators.
West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHC) is asking community members to donate any ‘scrubs’ or lab coats they might have at home.

Under normal circumstances, the health centre would have capacity to supply all appropriate staff with hospital-issued scrubs, but there are currently not enough to go around, and these items are on back-order.

All donated scrubs will be laundered and made available to clinical staff, separate from the health centre’s ‘usual’ supply to decrease the chance of people taking the virus out of the health centre.

The WPSHC is also in need of N95 respirators, if you have extras (expired is ok) donations would be appreciated.

Anyone with scrubs, lab coats or N95 respirators to donate can drop them off the following locations:
Parry Sound – Fire Hall, 4 Church Street Parry Sound, please leave in a sealed bag outside the front doors
Carling – Carling Rink, 2 West Carling Bay Road, Nobel, please leave in bin
McDougall – Fire Station 1, 10 Municipal Drive Nobel, please leave in blue bin at front door
McKellar – Fire Station 1, 1 Sharon Park Dr. McKellar, please leave in a sealed bag under the covered entrance.
Seguin – Humphrey Fire Station, 115 Highway 141
Whitestone – Fire Hall, 21 Church Street Dunchurch, please ring doorbell and leave in sealed bag outside the side door.

Nursing Stations – Please phone ahead and arrange for drop off, the nursing stations are not accepting any walkins due to COVID-19.

Pointe Au Baril – (705) 366-2376
Argyle – (705) 757-1717
Britt – (705) 383-2375
Moose Deer Point – (705) 375-9900
Rosseau – (705) 732-1095
Whitestone – Drop off at the fire hall

Publication Date:  Monday, March 30, 2020

Covid -19 Community Package

Hardcopies are available in Whitestone at:

The Duck Rock Store
The Liquor Store
The Nursing Station
The Council Agenda Box at the Liquor Store Sign

Publication Date:  Friday, June 5, 2020

Visiting a public space? Maintain a safe physical distance of one brown bear length (2m / 6ft) apart from other people. 

*If you encounter an actual brown bear stay further than 2m away, they are not as cuddly as teddy bears* 

Publication Date:  Wednesday, June 3, 2020

A pandemic is a very stressful event for individuals and communities. Make sure you are taking care of yourself:

- Practice self-care. Get enough sleep, eat healthy, exercise, and do things you enjoy. 
- Stay in touch with your social network and reach out for social support.  
- Stay focused on what is within your control.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, support is available.

National Suicide Prevention Support line – 1-833-456-4566  /  www.crisisservicescanada.ca

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) - (705) 746-4264 / www.mps.cmha.ca
After hours crisis line 1-888-893-8333

B’Saanibamaadsiwin – Aboriginal Mental Health, Parry Sound – (705) 746-2512

BounceBack – www.bouncebackontario.ca

SafeSpace - www.vibrant.org/safespace

#ItsOKToNotBeOK

Publication Date:  Thursday, November 17, 2022

Food Banks are expressing a need for donations.