Rotary Club of Cobourg – in its 90th year – 2-8 November 2010
155 Members and growing – this Club truly replicates the importance of being a Rotarian in a town where you are so focused on the community and serving.
Michael Parker met us at Bayview Country Club, we travelled in the ‘people mover’, the Delrenmobile,to Cobourg through the most scenic county, taking back roads rather than Highway 401.
Michael gave us a running commentary throughout out travels and the whole time we were in Cobourg – sharing with us his pride for his craft as one of the leading building companies in Cobourg.
On arrival in Cobourg, we went to the Town Hall, met the Mayor, Peter Delanty, also a Rotarian. He provided a tour and explained the history of the building. He has finished his 3rd term and chose not to stand for re-election.
Each of the host families met us at the Town Hall and took us to their homes.
Our visit included:
Vocational - 2 days visiting the various community and mental health networks operating in the city. Everybody we met is passionate, committed and so willing to share.
3 November - Wednesday
The team gathered at Tim Horton’s for a quick “cup of Joe” before heading to Port Hope for youth “The Hub”. The Hub is a locally funded initiative that supports youth in any way, shape or form. The design of the “hub” is very interesting; there is a coordinator, Lynn Evans, who speaks with young people who drop in to the centre seeking help or advice. Upon presentation,Lynn
3 November - Wednesday
Cobourg – Northumberland Children’s Services visit from Melissa Quig -
We began our day at the Northumberland Children's Services Committee (NCSC). Executive Director, Nicola Crow was most informative in explaining the vitial role in which this committe plays in response to the needs of families, children and youth within the Northumberland County. NCSC provides a "one stop shop" as it is committed in facilitating a collaboration of over 30 service providers to achieve the most effective and efficient use of resources, and to achieve the best possible outcomes for the community. Due to this collaboration of services NCSC are able to "wrap around Northumberland" services under one umbrealla of community supports; offer a myraid of services for families, children and youth in need of mental health services and counselling; and share agency resources effectively to achieve and advocate for common goals.
This centalized intake service links families to the most appropriate supports in the community. Such as Rebound. We were joined by Trent Parmenter who introduced us to the Mental Health Court Support and Diversion Program. This program provides assistance to individuals in conflict with the law who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Rebound professionals assist in accessing appropriate mental health diagnosis, treatment, supports and follow up to minimize further involvement in the criminal justice system. Not only do Rebound profesionals faciliate appropriate psychiatric assessment and medical treatment as needed but they also link individuals to crisis program, substance use programs, emergency housing, services for intellectual disabilities, case management , court diversion and release from custody programs.
We then made our way to another service that falls under the unbrealla of NCSC, that is, Northumberland Services for Women. Linda Janzen and her team provide an amazing service to provide a safe, secure, supportive independent living environment that will enable women to make a smooth transition to a voilent free life style within their chosen community. Northumberland Services for Women has beautiful facilities consisting of 18 bedrooms in which Women can also access individual and group counselling services, psychoeducation and transitional support and housing programs.
Before venturing out to other services under the Northumberland Children's Services Committee we were spoilt over lunch at the Oasis Resturant which was hosted by owner and fellow Roatrian Don Owen. Our team enjoyed great food, good tunes and company of Linda and our Rotarian organizer Michael. Then we hit the road again and were greeted by Pam Nickolson and her team at Kinark.
Kinark, Family and Child Services is a not for profit organisation which provides a full range of free and confidential programs and services to children and youth (0-18 years) with mental health issues, as well as support for the families/ caregivers. After a centralized intake process the family and child are offered an appointment within 14 days. Presenting problems may include:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Anxious, Fearful, Depressed, Sad, Withdrawn, Low Self Esteem
- Behavioural problems at school or at home
- Alcohol/Drug Abuse; Extreme Mood Swings; Aggressive, Oppositional.
- Assaultive, Destructive of property, cruelty to animals, fire setting.
The GSE team had the opportunity to speak to a number of mental health professionals, including counsellors, social workers, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists within this organisation who conducted individual, group and family counselling and interventions.
After a tour of Kinark we were joined by Susan Abell who represented the Office of the Chief Coroner Province of Ontario which lead us into discussion and analysis into the report of the Paediatric Death Review Committe and Deaths under five Committee.
The GSE team were extremely grateful to all the health professionals who lead and faciliated wonderful learning programs and tours of the above organisations throughout the day.
4 November - Thursday - by Alyssa Milton
The team gathered at Tim Horton’s for a quick “cup of Joe” before heading to Port Hope for youth “The Hub”. The Hub is a locally funded initiative that supports youth in any way, shape or form. The design of the “hub” is very interesting; there is a coordinator, Lynn Evans, who speaks with young people who drop in to the centre seeking help or advice. Upon presentation,
v Personal Relationships
v High School diplomas
v Career Planning
v Job search
v Addictions
v Problems at Home
v Post Secondary Education
v On-line learning
v Health Services
v Depression
v Anger Management
v Parenting
v Housing Services
v Food Supplies
v Sexual Health
v Social Services
The hub network put on an amazing breakfast spread for us whilst we met all the different organizations that utalised the Hub. The Port Hope police liaison officer also gave a moving presentation relating to the need for more services in the community for youth mental health.
W then moved on to Lakeshore Community Mental Health Services who gave us an interesting overview of their service. Alyssa, Stuart, Melissa and Matt completed some home visits to consumers receiving support from the service and saw how LCMHS approaches case management. Matthew and Dot went on a tour of the hospital facilities.
We had a quick bite to eat at a local pizzeria and subsequently moved on to the Kawartha Pine Ridge School Board to hear about new ways of conducting risk assessments and responding to risk related circumstances.
At around 3pm we proceeded to a local venue called “The Mill” where we again got together in an informal setting with all the people we had visited in Cobourg on our vocational visits and also our Rotarian hosts families. This was a great opportunity to further discuss some of the great programs that were up and running in the Northumberland Area.
Rotary - Presentation to the club at lunch-time on Friday 5 November. A noisy, fun club, very well organised – about 140 attended including two of our new Rotarian friends from Belleville, Karen Baker and John Cairns. We were made so very welcome and had a wonderful time.
Immediately after the meeting, we changed out of our suits, handed them to Rotarian Rod Baker to have them cleaned over the week-end. We travelled 2hrs from Cobourg for an overnight visit to the Cottage of Michael and Karen Parker together with Rotarian Ian Lancaster and Jane Wheeler. The Cottage, specially designed and built by Michael and Karen, is located on Sheldrake Lake – see photo, in the most picturesque setting.
As we left Cobourg, it started to snow and continued for our journey to the cottage, overnight and next morning, had the wonderful experience of waking to see everything white! Little chilly too..
Mike and Karen has so much organised, 4 wheeling, walking, stacks of food, before leaving the cottage to visit Bon Echo Provincial Park –
we won’t explain how we gained entry to the park, even though the gates were locked!
We then travelled to Toronto, to meet with Paul Sweet and Bill MacDonald to join us for the Ice Hockey game. The tickets has been specially organised by DG Ted and donated by Rotarians. It was a great event, thoroughly enjoyed by all. Dot sat with Bill and we both agreed that the Toronto Maple Leafs needed to get their act together – very disappointed that after leading until minutes before full-time, the game tied, extra time and finally losing by a penalty stroke!
Sunday, was spent with our host families and a final farewell reception at the home of Bill and Shirley Moebus late afternoon.
Monday morning, to pack, say farewell to our host families, lunch at the Buttermilk Cafe, then aboard the Dalrenmobile, ‘people mover’ which has been our wheels for so much of our journey so far – to travel to meet our next hosts from the Rotary Club of Richmond Hill.
The Cops...A very special thank you to Assistant Governor, Michael Parker, President Bill MacDonald our host families and all of the Rotary Club of Cobourg.
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