Input required on PSW shortage

A round table discussion on the critical shortage of PSWs in long-term care homes takes place June 6 at 3 p.m. at the Steelworkers Hall, 66 Brady St. What does the situation look like on the ground? How can we solve the crisis?

PSWs, administrators of long-term care homes, community college representatives, union representatives, local health coalition members, seniors’ organizations, family councils, residents’ councils and others who may have some insight into these issues are invited to attend.

This consultation is one of a series the Ontario Health Coalition and Unifor are holding across Ontario. From these meetings, they will draft a report and recommendations, which they will send to all participants in draft form to ask for your feedback. The groups say they will use the final report and recommendations to do their best to influence the change needed to resolve what they called the PSW crisis.

RSVP to Melissa Wood at 705-662-8506 or melissa.wood@unifor.org.

Hospital AGM on June 19

Dr. Tyler Christie, Health Science North’s chief medical information officer, will be the keynote speaker at HSN’s annual general meeting this year.

The theme of this year’s AGM is “Digitally Enabled: Investing in Tomorrow” and the hospital said in a release that Dr. Christie “has been leading those discussions locally and across the region.”

The AGM will also feature reports from the chair of the board, the president and CEO, the chief of staff and a patient adviser.

The annual general meeting takes place Wednesday, June 19, 5 p.m., in the Rock Garden Café of the Ramsey Lake Health Centre.

Traffic update

Edward Avenue, Coniston: Storm sewer inspections and flushing will close one lane of traffic along Edward Avenue, from Allan Street to Michael Street, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from June 5-30.

Green stairs art walk

The green stairs project committee has announced the unveiling of Sudbury’s art walk at the green stairs situated at Ste. Anne’s Road. The walk takes place June 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The green stairs project, spearheaded by Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann, has evolved since 2006 with the successful installation of several safety features. Increasing pedestrian traffic was identified as being pivotal in achieving a safer area. Art and heritage were introduced as a means to this end. The green stairs are now part of the Rainbow Routes History Hikes. The Woman of Power sculpture, created by artist Will Morin in 2009, was unveiled 11 years ago as the first art installation in the area.

Art students from the four neighboring secondary schools – Sudbury Secondary, Marymount Academy, College Notre-Dame and St. Albert’s – have participated, under the direction of their teachers, by submitting works of art created on wooden circles, depicting selected social themes. Under the art direction of Morin, more than 60 original pieces of art are framed and displayed creatively along the stairs.

Blues for Food

The 29th annual Blues for Food takes place along Durham Street in downtown Sudbury on June 8.

The music begins at noon with the Nickel City Road Crew. The day features Trudeau Theriault and Lowenberg; Elijah and the Backburners; Tommy Fyfe and the Whiskey River Blues band; Mr. MD and the Aural Xciters; The Dazed; Cold Shot; and The Bluez Brotherz at 7 p.m.

The family area will include face-painting, an agricultural exhibit, free wagon rides and Jumper the clown.

The day’s activities begin at 11 a.m. Admission is a non-perishable food item or a cash donation. Proceeds go to the Sudbury Food Bank for distribution to their 47 member agencies.