Seniors Not Leaving Home: Health Minister

Ontario's Health Minister is disputing claims seniors from the Fort Frances area are being told if they want to access long-term care beds they have to leave the community.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Howard Hampton revealed Monday one resident received a letter from the Northwest Community Care Access Centre that a bed was available for her 550 kilometres away in Terrace Bay.

But Deb Matthews says no one is being forced from their community.

"The CCAC was simply informing all people on their waiting list that there was a new option available," says Matthews. "It is completely wrong to suggest that there was any forcing going on."

Matthews says the letter was to notify seniors of the new long-term care bed facility in Terrace Bay.

Healthy Smiles Back

The Northwestern Health Unit is rolling out a program this fall to improve the oral health of kids in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.

Medical Officer of Health Doctor Jim Arthurs says the Healthy Smiles program is a no-cost dental program for young children in low-income households.

"It's a low-cost or no-cost dental program with the eligibility for young children who have no access to dental care by insurance," says Arthurs, "and whose family has under $20-thousand in adjusted net family income."

The Health Unit is receiving provincial funding to carry out the program and operate a mobile dental clinic in communities where no dentists exist.

STOP Smoking Program Coming to Fort

The STOP On-the-Road smoking program will be returning to Fort Frances later this month.

Northwestern Health Unit's Enforcement Manager Jennifer McKibbon says the program is being offered to 175 smokers.

"Smokers attend the workshop, listen to a bit of information on the research that's being done," says McKibbon, "have a little bit of individual counseling. Choose with the counselor which type of nicotine replacement therapy would be right for them and get $175 worth of free N.R.T."

McKibbon says for most smokers, the cost of nicotine replacement products is a barrier in their quit attempts.

Falls Students Take Rachel's Challenge

International Falls students have pledged to take Rachel's Challenge.

It's based on the writings of Rachel Scott, the first student killed during the 1999 Columbine High School shootings.

Spokesperson Sarah Branion says Rachel's challenge for people to perform acts of kindness and compassion is having an effect.

"We've definitely seen Columbine as a tragedy move into a triumph," says Branion. "We've seen suicides averted. We've actually have documented school shootings stopped because we've been to a community and inspired a different kind of culture with the students."

Branion was in the Falls to promote the program to students and the community.

Port Alberni Wins

Port Alberni has been officially declared Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town.

The World Fishing Network says the British Columbia community defeated Nestor Falls in its on-line contest that went down to the wire.

Nestor Falls does pick up a $5-thousand donation for its efforts.

Province Seeks Assurances on Dam Sale

The provincial government wants AbitibiBowater to continue honouring water and power agreements with local communities if it proceeds with a sale of its hydro-electric dams in Iroquois Falls and Fort Frances.

Concerns about the dams were raised in August when it was revealed the company was again looking at selling off its hydro assets.

Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey says no formal request to sell the dams has been received, but shares the concerns about how the sale will impact local mills and communities.

Pink Out!

The Rainy River District Breast Health Network wants to the district to Pink Out.

Chair Teresa Hazel says they're asking everyone to wear pink on October 22.

"We want the whole district to get involved with breast cancer awareness and the promotion of breast health," says Hazel. "We just thought it would be a great way to ask people to wear pink or decorate their offices or doors pink and just think pink."

Hazel says they're also asking people who wear pink to donation one dollar to the Riverside Foundation for Health Care for a new Digital Mammography Unit.