Home Decor and More by Rhonda Kirk Owen Sound on
Rob Gowan
LATEST STORIES BY ROB GOWAN
Injured workers group in works for Grey-Bruce
An upcoming meeting is planned to form a group aimed at providing peer support, education and advice to injured workers in Grey-Bruce. The community meeting for injured workers, their families and anyone else who is interested is scheduled for Thursday at the OPSEU member centre in Owen Sound. "We all think that the safety net is there and it is going to work," said Jo-Anne Hearns, who was injured on the job herself and is the main organizer of Thursday's meeting. "When we get hurt at work we kind of fit into two categories. One is the category where the safety net does work, and then there is the category where the safety net doesn't work, which generally leads us on a downward spiral mentally, physically, emotionally and leaves us trying to fight for our rights." Thursdays meeting will include a number of areas of discussion. Injured worker Margery Wardle, of Ottawa, will talk about taking the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to court over mental illness, while there will be a founding member of the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups talking about the organization's role and the advocacy it does. There will be a peer support session asking injured workers what assistance they need, while case managers will be available for people who want to speak with an expert about their situation. The meeting will also provide information about the services that are available in the community. "I believe there will be a number of services in the community we will be able to access and bring to the table as part of our support," said Hearns. The hope is to gather enough interest to set up a Grey-Bruce group of the Ontario Network of Injured Workers Groups, which has groups across the province, providing supports to injured workers. Hearns said she became involved in the injured workers network after having been injured herself and she has learned a lot about her rights and the help that is available. "Whether it is working or volunteering or just adding value to our lives or having friendships," said Hearns. "There is a whole education process and sometimes people need help with just filing. Sometimes we just want someone to listen to our story." Hearns was working on an assembly line when in 2007 she started to have concerns about her arms. It was on a Friday in 2008 when she just couldn't finish a shift because of the pain. Eventually she was diagnosed with four areas in her arms where she had developed tendonitis from repetitive strain. Hearn said she was told by WSIB to not go back to work, and after a year had passed it was decided she would be retrained. She was given just two weeks to decide what direction she wanted to go in and then 12 weeks to find a job after she was retrained in social work. "For me I had to start over," said Hearns. "Some of us are more fortunate to have the support systems or have something that just goes the right way that helps us put our feet forward, while some of us are not able to at all, and it has got nothing to do with an attitude." She said she is glad to be back into the workforce, though she doesn't work full time anymore. She said for workers who have been injured it is not easy to go back to work. Businesses have a fear of hiring an injured worker because of the potential for added costs. Quite often injured workers are towards the end of their working years, and then there is the question if the worker is able to even work a full work week. "It is very difficult to start over and get out and find work, even if you are one of the fortunate ones who actually has the ability to function," said Hearn. "There are a lot of shortcomings in the system." Thursday's community meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. in Suite 101 of the BDO Building at 1717 2nd Ave. E. For information or to register contact gbinjuredworkers@gmail.com
Owen Sound police seeing little change with legal pot
Pot legalization appears to have started quietly in Owen Sound. The Owen Sound police haven't seen any kind of uptick in users or added concerns surrounding misuse of the drug, after it was legalized across Canada on Oct. 17. Owen Sound Police Const. Craig Peddle said Tuesday that they have had a few instances where they had to talk to individuals about the rules surrounding marijuana use, but nothing that shows more people are using the drug in the city due to its legalization. "We are not really seeing too much and I think part of it is the delay," Peddle said. "One could say there is going to be an increase or one could say there is not going to be an increase, but we just don't know yet." Delays in receiving pot orders have been reported by customers in Ontario since it was legalized almost two weeks ago. On Monday the Office of the Ontario Ombudsman said it had received complaints over delivery of cannabis from the province's Ontario Cannabis Store. The online store is the only way cannabis can be obtained legally in the province, with private retail stores not set to come online until April. The ombudsman's office has said it plans to monitor developments. According to the OCS website, there could be delays in delivery times. "Due to extremely high demand and complications related to the current labour situation at Canada Post, delivery times may be longer than expected," a statement on the site reads. Canada Post is currently conducting rotating strikes after negotiators working for the union representing the workers and the Crown corporation failed to reach an agreement. Earlier this month, before cannabis consumption became legal, Owen Sound police chief Bill Sornberger said the service would be ready for legalization. Officers have been trained in field sobriety and drug recognition, and police are taking a zero tolerance approach to those who choose to drive impaired, whether it is by drugs or alcohol, Sornberger said. The Owen Sound service opted against purchasing the government approved roadside screening device due to the cost and uncertainty surrounding the technology. Peddle said police are also taking a role in informing the public about marijuana use and the risks associated with the drug. Peddle said they have been using their social media account to get the message out about driving high and where cannabis can be consumed. Some have reached out to police asking them where they can or can't smoke the drug. "We have a lot of responsible people just asking for clarification because it is new to everybody," said Peddle. "That is promising for us that our city seems to be having a real positive and responsible attitude." Peddle said they have also started including information about cannabis use in their school outreach, such as their safety village and safe driving programs. "Some of the students have been asking, 'What about the edibles,' and things like that," said Peddle. "We talk about the safety side of it – if you are not sure, ask."
Arra named acting Medical Officer of Health
Dr. Ian Arra has been named the Acting Medical Officer of Health for the Grey Bruce Health Unit. Arra's appointment is effective Friday, and he replaces Dr. Hazel Lynn, who has held the position since September 2017 after coming out of retirement to take on the role. Arra joined the health unit in 2015 during postgraduate training and more recently worked with the health unit as a physician consultant. The board of health hired the firm of Feldman Daxon Partners to conduct a months-long recruitment of a new MOH and recently endorsed Arra as their preferred candidate. Along with his medical degree, Arra has also completed postgraduate training in public health and preventative medicine and has a master's in epidemiology and biostatics. He has worked on a variety of public health initiatives on road safety, nuclear emergency response planning, resource prioritization, electronic documentation implementation, climate change mitigation, the built environment and health effects of wind farms, it said in a news release from the health unit. Arra first came to public attention locally in 2013 for the research he did with Lynn on wind turbines and their effects on the people living around them. At that time Lynn and Arra looked at the most available and credible studies on wind turbines and their effects related to noise. They focused on 18 peer reviewed studies, all of which revealed an association between win turbines and distress among some people who live near them. Arra was appointed acting MOH for a brief period in September 2017, taking over the role from Dr. Miriam Klassen, MOH for Perth County, who took over the job on an interim basis when Grey-Bruce MOH Dr. Christine Kennedy went on personal leave. Arra returned to his previous role as a consultant when Lynn came out of retirement and was appointed to the acting MOH position on Sept. 22, 2017.
Double win for home decor business at Chamber awards
Two years ago Rhonda Kirk was encouraged by family to quit her job and focus on her home-based decor business. Since then the business has expanded rapidly to include stores in Owen Sound, Collingwood and Alliston and an online following in the thousands. On Thursday, the business' success was recognized at the Owen Sound and District Chamber of Commerce's Business Excellence Awards, taking home the New Business of the Year Award and the People's Choice Award. "I am just thrilled. I can't even believe it," Kirk said Friday from her Alliston location. "I never really thought when I started out on this little journey it would just happen. It is almost like a miracle happened." Kirk was working in management in a residential program in Wiarton when she started her business in her home in Chatsworth selling home decor items. Then her son started a Facebook page for her and it immediately went "crazy." "My daughter was like, 'quit your job and put the energy you put into your work into this,' " Kirk said. "It took me four months. It took me two months to decide to leave and then two more months to actually leave my job." With her focus on the business full-time, it continued to grow, and in June 2017, she opened a warehouse on Owen Sound's east side near the Heritage Place Shopping Centre. While the inventory was for sale on her Facebook page, they also opened the doors to the public, allowing them to browse some of the many items for sale. But it wasn't long until they outgrew that space. In February a store was opened in Collingwood, which is run by Kirk's daughter Alyssa. In May they moved into a brand new building next to McDonald's Flower Cart on the Sunset Strip just west of Owen Sound. The new location provided them with more space and a storefront, where they could better set up and display the decor items. "Since we did that it has been insanity," Kirk said of the move to Owen Sound's west side. "It has been non-stop. We have been really, really lucky." In February they opened another store in Alliston and are also leasing a bigger warehouse. "We were already coming down here and doing sales with people online," Kirk said of the expansion to Alliston. "It was just a natural progression to come here." In her business, Kirk buys truckloads of surplus home decor items from a leading online retailer, including light fixtures, furniture, artwork, mirrors, area rugs, bedding and much more. She has expanded to carry some furniture lines and mattresses, as well as items made locally, including signs, grill scrapers and candles. "We support other local people in our community by just having them sell in the store and use our platform," said Kirk. Today her Owen Sound Facebook group has more than 14,000 members, and even Kirk is blown away with how popular it has become. "I am so blessed with this business," said Kirk. "I grow it and it seems to just flourish. Whatever we do it seems to go well." She said her business is filling a void in Owen Sound and the other communities she serves. "There wasn't anything in Owen Sound like this," said Kirk. "You wouldn't believe how much the impact of Sears leaving changed the landscape as far as buying stuff." Kirk used bed sheets as an example. In the past, when people wanted quality bedsheets Sears was often a place they would go for them, but after it closed earlier this year, the public was left with very few options. "Now you are looking at Walmart and maybe some Winners," said Kirk. "We found a niche, but we found that niche before Sears left." She said more people are shopping online, but by having the storefronts it allows people to actually come in and see what they are purchasing. "They might find the piece they were looking for on a website," said Kirk. "The point is with us it is discounted, they can see it, touch it and pick it up," Kirk is also proud of the fact that she is bringing employment to the communities and said she has been blessed with wonderful staff. There are about 10 employees in both Owen Sound and Alliston and another half-a-dozen in Collingwood. She also provides her employees with a benefits package. "I am very proud of that," said Kirk. "It is something that is important to me to make sure my staff has coverage and are taken care of." She has also made a point of giving back to the communities she serves. They recently held a food bank collection drive, and hold customer giveaways each week. For the time being, Kirk is focused on the businesses she is operating, but would like to open a furniture store in the future. "For now we are sitting tight," said Kirk. "There is no point in growing if you are not going to to it well. We want to make sure we are doing it well." Other award winners at Thursday's gala at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre included: Infinity Networks Solutions, Business of the Year (1-24 employees); Caframo, Business of the Year (25+ employees), Home and Community Support Services of Grey Bruce , Community Service Award (Not for Profit); Middlebro and Stevens LLP, Community Service Award; Heritage Place Shopping Centre, Environmental Stewardship Award; Falls Inn and Spa, Hospitality Award; Owen Sound Foodland, Service Excellence Award; McMillen Electric and Complete House Inspections, Skilled Trade Excellence Award; Nurse Next Door Georgian Bay, Small Office/Home Office Award; Paint Master, Young Entrepreneur Award.
Notice for the Postmedia Network
This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Home Decor and More by Rhonda Kirk Owen Sound on
Source: https://edmontonjournal.com/author/rgowan/?from=1380