Dear Colleagues, 

Miigwetch to the Elders and teachers who provided healing words and blessings for our community last week. Blessings were said at many memorial locations, including at the Giche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden and Saugeen First Nation for the 215 residential school children. 

  • This year, National Indigenous History Month is dedicated to the missing children, the families left behind and the survivors of residential schools. National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.
  • The Owen Sound Library and Kegedonce Press host a virtual visit with authors Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler, Celeste Pedri-Spade, and Neal Shannacappo. They will discuss their current books published by Kegedonce Press and life as Indigenous authors on June 10 at 7:00 pm.
  • Go to Zoom Link: http://bit.ly/Kegedonce-OSNGUPL

This week, we stand in solidarity with our Muslim community. We extend our compassion and love to those in our community and elsewhere who are affected by this horrendous crime against a Muslim family in London.   We fundamentally oppose and condemn all forms of Islamophobia, hatred, discrimination and prejudice

  • The Kincardine Islamic Centre is asking people to join the calls by the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) for a National Action Summit on Islamophobia.  https://www.nccm.ca/london/ 
  • The Owen Sound Muslim Association invite the community to come together at Owen Sound City Hall, Friday, June 11 at 7 p.m to join as we have before in peaceful solidarity with and for our Muslim neighbours. We want a safe community for them and all our children, and we can only build that together. If you wish to bring a non-perishable food item, it will be donated to a local food program. 

There remains so much work to be done in our communities and country to address all forms of discrimination, hatred and systemic racism. 

  • Show your Pride this month by following Grey Bruce Pride or visit their events page for upcoming events and activities in your area: https://www.facebook.com/GreyBrucePride/events 
  • Kincardine Pride is hosting a three-part webinar series called “‘Out’ in the Country” which will explore what it means to be LGBTQ2+ in rural Ontario. 
  • Learn more and register for each of the three webinars at fb.com/kincardinepride/events 
  • An introduction to human trafficking relevant to the 2SLGBTQ community is being hosted  by PFLAG on Tuesday, June 15th.   LGBTQ youth and other marginalized youth are disproportionately at risk of being trafficked.  
  • Nicole Gajraj will give a short talk followed by a Q&A period.   For the Zoom link email owensoundon@pflagcanada.ca. 

As we  move into Step 1 of the Roadmap to Reopen many organizations and businesses will be opening up their doors. Please remember to update 211 for your listing and check 211 for changes to programs.  

FOOD SUPPORTS

  • Ontario Nutrition Program Grey Bruce (OSNP-GB):  OSNP staff have been  planning with all 135 schools on ways to support food insecure families throughout the summer. All schools have received communications from OSNP with information on available grocery store gift cards, food vouchers, food hampers, meal sources and good food boxes. 
  • OSNP granted an additional $160,000 emergency funding that has been made available to schools for family home support now and over the summer months. The United Way, Bruce Power, the Salvation Army, grocery stores and school fundraisers have also contributed various supports via OSNP.  
  • If you have school families-in-need, please contact the school principal or administrator to access resources. Each school has different plans for distribution in June and over the summer months. 
  • Grey Bruce Food Distribution: while not all the May 2021 numbers are in the totals today since July 2020 are: 
    • over 150,000 (152,852) community meals distributed by 12 out of 18 organizations
    • 50,134.24 kg of food donated through foodrescue.ca 
    • 132,769 kg of food donated through food banks to 8,975 HHs (17,329 people supported), 17 out of 20 food banks 
    • 27,060 community volunteer hours (35 out of 52 organizations) 
  • The Grey Bruce Community Garden Network has put out a call for community members to assist in this year’s growing season in Durham.  Contact riverstonecommunitygarden@elephantthoughts.com.
  • South East Grey Community Health Centre -has  opened to the public on June 7th for face-to-face meetings with clients and meal pickups.  

HOUSING SUPPORTS

  • The COVID19 outbreakat the Forum rooming house in Hanover has brought partners together to respond to the complex needs in the building. 
  • While Grey Bruce Public Health is leading with other health providers to respond to the medical needs, many other partners are ensuring daily meals, food hampers and health & hygiene items are delivered. Other partners are providing housing support and responding with mental health, harm reduction and non-COVID19 health support for the residents who must remain in isolation. 
  • Public Health has a comprehensive checklist for preventing and responding to outbreaks in congregate settings. 
  • By-Name List: 20 new referrals came in this week for a total of 90 people on the list.   A by-name list is a comprehensive list of every person in a community experiencing homelessness, updated in real time. Using information collected and shared with their consent, each person on the list has a file that includes their name, homeless history, health, and housing needs.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES 

  • Reaching Home Funding: the United Way Simcoe Muskoka invites existing recipients of Reaching Home funding for Rural and Remote to apply again for a different project  for capital projects to address housing needs in their region.   
  • A total of $2,619,222 will be available to support capital projects, pending approval from Parliament, expected in June 2021.  Funding requests accepted from a minimum of $25,000 up to a maximum of $500,000.
  •  Application deadline: July 5th at 5:00 PM EST.
  •  Projects to run from September 2021 to March 31, 2022.
  • To Apply visit their website https://uwsimcoemuskoka.ca/reachinghomeapply/ or contact Tally Lajeunesse,  Federal Programs Associate,705.726.2301 x 2012,  ReachingHome@UWSimcoeMuskoka.ca

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS

  • Wellness Wednesdays: Jackie Ralph, CMHA Supervisor, Youth Awareness & Education, is an incredible force of energy in our community!  Since Sept 2020, she has produced 30 Wellness Wednesday videos with 5,042 views and 20 On Air interviews with Mix 106.5 (some 6,619 listeners and 13,292 views). With the province re-opening this weekend, look for Jackie singing outside various long-term care facilities! 

INCOME SUPPORTS 

  • COVID-19 benefits finder will help you to determine which benefits you may be eligible for: https://covid-benefits.alpha.canada.ca/en/start
  • The Wiarton Salvation Army will be hosting an ID clinic next week. Call for more info 519-534-0353.
  • United Way School Backpack Program opens Jun 14th – Aug 20th, 2021. Individuals can dial 2-1-1 on their phone to apply for the Backpack Program. 2-1-1 call centre staff will complete the intake application process. After Aug 20th, individuals can contact the United Way directly @ 519-376-1560. 
  • For large agency requests, call the United Way office directly. Once backpacks are available, the United Way will contact the parent and coordinate pick up in Owen Sound or at a depot in their community. Requests after Aug 16 may not reach a depot and the parent may need to come to Owen Sound to pick up.  
  • Pick up depots are located in: 
  • Grey County – Dundalk, Durham, Hanover, Markdale, Meaford and Owen Sound 
  • Bruce County – Kincardine, Port Elgin, Tara, Walkerton and Wiarton

TRANSPORTATION SUPPORTS

  • Meaford Moves+ is an accessible, door-to-door bus service that Municipal residents who have a disability or mobility challenge may be eligible for. 
  • Riders can use Meaford Moves+ for medical or professional appointments, or going to work. If your healthcare provider is out of town, trips to Collingwood, Thornbury, or Owen Sound for medical appointments are also available.  
  • Rates are $2 for in-town rides, and $8 for out of town trips.
  • For an application form, visit http://ow.ly/WJT950EZ8JM, or call 519-538-1060 ext. 1100 for a hardcopy.

Stay well, Jill  

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