A program providing mental health resources by phone is receiving a boost from the J & W Murphy Foundation.
ICAN, a telephone consultation program run by the Strongest Families Institute is being funded to the tune of $230,000.
ICAN is an eight-week program that provides weekly telephone calls with a coach to help support people through their depression and anxiety.
The money will provide free access to mental health counselling for close to 200 people over the next two years.
President and CEO of the Strongest Families Institute Dr. Patricia Lingley-Pottie says after three years of living under the spectre of a pandemic people need a place to talk about their experiences, especially those aged 18-25.
“And what we’re seeing is anxiety and depression are really impairing people, especially our emerging adults and those communities who may be underserved,” said Pottie. “They’re not gaining timely access to really evidence-based services, effective services that can help equip them with these types of skills to really conquer these problems.”
The ICAN program offers strategies to help deal with depression and anxiety.
Pottie offered an example of a simple tip to help manage those issues.
“Mental health and well-being is such an important part of our general health and it’s so important take time for yourself. So, I’m always about Dr. Trish tips; make sure you schedule self-care for yourself every single day even if it’s only 10 minutes, take 10 for yourself,” said Pottie.
Anyone interested in participating in the ICAN program can self-refer by calling 1-866-470-7111 or through the Strongest Families Institute website.
The Liverpool curling club is once again undergoing major renovations.
The group is looking to cut costs with the installation of solar panels on the roof and improve accessibility with the construction of a modular ramp and power door.
The J and W Murphy Foundation recently provided Region of Queens with funding to be used for civic improvement projects.
Region of Queens council decided at their last meeting to award $236,000 of that funding for improvements to the Liverpool curling club.
Over the past couple of years, the club has spent around $750,000 improving the club through the installation of a new roof, improvements to the heating systems and insulation and transitioning to LED lighting.
Club president Gordon Sampson says while this is the first time they’ve received funding from the municipality the club has been successful in applying and making using of several provincial grants.
Sampson says they’ve seen awareness of the club drastically improve within the community since the renovations began.
“It’s exponentially higher than what we had expected even,” said Sampson. “The enthusiasm for the club has gone through the roof.”
In addition to hosting more bonspiels and club-based engagements such as trivia nights, Sampson says the community has made use of the building for a wide range of events from air cadet meetings to Privateer Days, public health COVID vaccination clinics to YMCA outreach programs.
He says opening their doors for use as a community hub aligns with the club’s core mission.
“We’re centrally located, we’re in the downtown core. What we can offer to the town and the region, that’s what we’re all about. That’s our mission statement,” said Sampson. “That’s what we want to do and that’s why we’ve been successful.”
Sampson says installing solar panels on the club will help them get away from oil and move to electric heating while cutting their costs.
He’s hopeful adding the electric heating to the already installed heat pumps will help make the club a Net-Zero building.
And members aren’t finished working to upgrade the club as they’re writing grants to replace the kitchen and furniture.
He says the club has earned a reputation for doing good work with the funding provided which makes it easier to apply for more funding.
“Once you get a track record you can show that you do what you say you’re going to do, well then, money becomes more readily available.”
Sampson expects work will begin on the new ramp and solar panels once the curling season wraps and the weather improves sometime around April.
Region of Queens Council listens to public comment in Brooklyn during the Jan 24 meeting. Screen shot from Region of Queens YouTube video.
Region of Queens council took the show on the road, holding the last meeting in January at the Brooklyn Community Hall.
A large number of residents came out to voice their support during the public comment section for building an indoor pool instead of the outdoor pool currently in the planning stages.
The proposal was made to take the money donated by an anonymous benefactor and combine it with the money the municipality has earmarked for the construction of a new library.
The proponents expected that would account for almost $6 million.
The group would like to see the province and federal governments each contribute matching funding to bring the total amount to $18 million and build the new library and pool at Queens Place.
At this point there is no formal plan or budget to determine if $18 million is even enough to get the desired outcome.
They’ll be more on this story in the coming days.
Once the meeting commenced there were two recommendations for council to consider.
First, council approved a $236,000 grant to the Liverpool Curling Club for the installation of solar panels and the construction of an accessible entrance.
The cost of the grant will be covered by a recent donation made to the Region by the J & W Murphy Foundation for the purpose of directing it towards civic improvement projects.
Mayor Darlene Norman says the club has invested approximately $750,000 in upgrades over the past year without any ask from the Region.
Considering the community benefit the club brings for events extending far beyond curling council was glad to provide them with the help they’ve requested.
“The curling club has proven their ability to move forward on their projects,” said Norman. “They’re very successful, dedicated, hard group of workers. And of the many projects that are within Queens County this place has a definite positive impact on our Main Street Liverpool. You know it’s three-minute walk from there, this is the type of thing that we can support at no burden to the taxpayer and at the same time be helping that Main Street area as well as social, physical, forwardness from our people.”
Council also approved the second recommendation to install a new uninterruptible power supply (UPS) in the Liverpool Business Development Centre, home to the area’s largest call centre.
The new unit will replace one that has been in operation for 20 years but has reached its end of life.
Council awarded a tender to Universal Power Solutions to install the new UPS at a cost of $114,950 plus HST.
Council then heard an update from Public Works detailing the projects they are currently involved in across the municipality before turning their discussion once again to the subject of a pool.
Deputy Mayor Jack Fancy spoke as a member of the pool committee to ask that council review the recommendations previously brought forward by the committee.
The committee has proposed a site at Queens Place, the use of solar power, a pool design that features a gradual sloped entrance or “zero entry” accessible side and six lane and they’re asking to be able to apply for grants on the Region’s behalf to secure more outside funding.
The committee’s recommendations will come before council at a future meeting for discussion and a vote.
Council will return to chambers for the next meeting to be held on Valentines Day, February 14 beginning at 9:00am.
