The third-annual Women’s Health Symposium went off without a hitch Saturday at Fort Frances High School and organizers said they couldn’t be more pleased with the results.
“I thought the 2008 Women’s Health Symposium was phenomenal,” enthused committee member Dianne Faragher, noting the event drew more than 450 people.
“It was great how it all pulled itself together.”
“From the comments I heard from participants and exhibitors, I think this year’s symposium was another success,” echoed fellow committee member Jan Beazley.

Next month, he will don his purple cap and gown and, like his peers, proudly walk across the stage to receive his high school diploma.
While this might not seem like a difficult feat for most students, for 19-year-old Veryan Erwin, who struggles with autism, finishing his high school education demonstrates years of hard work both inside and outside the classroom.
And he admits much of his success is due to the assistance he has received from Transitional Services available through Community Living Fort Frances and District.

The Northwestern Health Unit is actively trying to improve health and food security by raising the nutrition level of the food we eat through a wide range of programs.
These include “Plant a row, Grow a row,” food box programs, community gardens in Emo and Fort Frances, a “Buy Local” display unit for trade shows and fairs, a “Buy Local” brochure, and an update of the “Buy Local, Buy Fresh” guide to local food.
4-H and the Ag in the Classroom programs also are doing their part in promoting local food production.

Despite a current audiologist position vacancy at the Northwestern Health Unit’s Kenora office, the following audiology and hearing services continue to be provided through its Fort Frances and Dryden locations:
•hearing tests and screening for people of all ages;
•hearing care counselling and hearing health care information;
•customized hearing aid prescriptions; and
•hearing aid dispensing and repairs.

Family and Children’s Services here is helping to promote Children’s Mental Health Day today (May 7)—a province-wide campaign to recognize the importance of children’s mental health services.
Statistics show one out of every five children and youths under the age of 19 struggles with emotional, mental, or behavioural difficulties.
Unfortunately, children’s mental health programs are chronically under-funded across the province.

The Rainy River District Logging & Safety Committee is presenting a “Health and Safety” Forum this Thursday and Friday (May 8-9) at the Memorial Sports Centre and anyone interested is welcome to register.
The event is targeted particularly at anyone involved in the forestry industry, including owners, operators, truck drivers, suppliers, and related industries.
There will be information sessions and training.
“We have area for people if they want to set up a display on the ice surface,” noted committee member Emily Watson.

With the snow hopefully gone and milder temperatures upon us, people are looking for more and more reasons to get out of the house and get active.
Those looking to do so, raising funds for a good cause at the same time, have to look no further than the sixth-annual “Walk for Memories,” which is slated for May 24 in Rainy River and then May 25 here in Fort Frances.
Pledge forms for the local walk are available at Fort Frances General Supply, Super 8 Motel, The Place, and 364 Store, or by calling 1-800-682-0245.

With more than 60 exhibitors participating in the third-annual Women’s Health Symposium coming up this Saturday (May 10), you can bet there will be a wide variety of information, displays, and interactive activities for women of all ages to enjoy.
The event is slated to take run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Fort Frances High School and Townshend Theatre, and the organizing committee is suggesting a “toonie” donation as admission to help with a student bursary it provides.

Research suggests seniors who have an active social life with friends and family can reduce the likelihood of conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia, according to a recent study published in the journal, Lancet Neurology.
“They’ve shown that people that have a good support network, whether it be family or friends or a combination of both, do seem to have better health overall,” said local pharmacist David Schwartz.
“They haven’t exactly pinpointed why, but it just seems that’s the way it works,” he added.

The Atikokan Crisis Centre is debuting the documentary, “Not a Loliday,” next Wednesday evening—a film by Patricia Lambkin of Atikokan that deals with complex and pervasive issues regarding the abuse of women.
“It’s very different from anything else I’ve ever done. Much more emotional, a really troubling issue to address,” Lambkin said.
The short documentary tells the story of one formerly abused woman who sought shelter at the Atikokan Crisis Centre.

After spending almost seven months in Winnipeg, Jennifer Marr is now back home in Emo and has brought with her son, Benjamin, who was born prematurely in November.
Not only did Benjamin arrive nearly 15 weeks early, but he weighed in at just one pound, four oz.
It’s been a struggle for the little guy ever since, who’s had to endure a number of surgeries and procedures to deal with complications of his early arrival.
“He is doing so well and we’re thrilled we were able to bring him home,” Marr enthused, noting Benjamin now weighs a healthy eight pounds, 12 oz.

While Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc. can’t yet give a firm date as to when the new CT scanner at La Verendrye Hospital here will be operational, they want district residents to know they’re busy making preparations to get in on line as soon as possible.

When it was first conceived in 1981, “Jump Rope for Heart” was supposed to last only three years.
In that first year, the response from schools was quite good, with 125,000 parents, teachers, and students taking part.
With more than $1 million raised that year, the program looked like it might outlive its three-year trial period.
In 1983, the program officially became a national event, with thousands of students taking part. From that point, “Jump Rope for Heart” spread to every corner of Canada.

Northwestern Ontario once again celebrated excellence in patient care as cancer care providers from Dryden and Fort Frances were honoured with Human Touch Awards at Cancer Care Ontario’s annual general meeting in Toronto.
The Human Touch Awards honour front-line cancer care professionals from across the province for providing exceptional and compassionate care to cancer patients.

The holiday season is long over but the spirit of the season continues here, where Canadian Tire is helping families in need in the community.
On Thursday afternoon, Canadian Tire owner Paul Sunstrum presented Capt. Angel Sandoval with $775 raised through the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families’ “Family Tree” program.
During the holiday season at Canadian Tire stores across Canada, $10 from every sale of every full-sized artificial tree was donated to the Canadian Tire Foundation for Families to benefit local charities.

Students and staff are about to embark on a journey of environmental awareness—and great expectations are in the air.
The Ministry of Education’s environmental education initiative, as outlined in “Shaping Our Schools, Shaping Our Future,” has provided funding to school boards and schools across the province to develop, introduce, or further enhance board, school, or classroom- and student-based projects.
Through these projects, students and teachers will further expand their knowledge, skills, and practices needed to be environmentally-responsible citizens.

Volunteers from the Rainy River District Breast Health Network will be situated at Pharmasave, Wal-Mart, Safeway, and Shoppers Drug Mart this Saturday (April 26) from 10 a.m.-noon to remind women of all ages of the importance of breast health.
“It’s a tag day, but we don’t want your money,” stressed network chair Teresa Hazel.
“It’s a free reminder to encourage women to have an annual breast examination by a trained professional or physician.”

The Canadian Blood Services annual spring clinic here runs today from 4:30-8:30 p.m. and again tomorrow (April 24) from noon-3 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m. at Fort Frances High School.
It’s not too late for interested donors to make an appointment by calling 1-888-2DONATE (1-888-236-6283).
Walk-in appointments also are welcome, although there’s no guarantee you won’t have to wait a while.

FORT FRANCES—By next week, staff at Family and Children’s Services here will be able to begin offering a multi-level, comprehensive parenting program called “The Triple P—Positive Parenting Program” to residents of Rainy River District.
This week, about 20 social workers and clinicians from the Fort Frances and Atikokan offices are undergoing training for the program, which was developed in Australia.
Felicity West, from Triple P in Australia, has been providing the training through explanations, multimedia, and role-playing.

Jennifer L’Hirondelle of Moss Yoga will be offering classes in hatha vinyasa style yoga, beginning with a free workshop next Tuesday (April 22) at the Métis Hall.
From 5:15-6:15 p.m., L‘Hirondelle will provide a combination of information and demonstrate some of the poses involved in hatha vinyasa style yoga.
In addition, two free classes will be held (also from 5:15-6:15 p.m. at the Métis Hall) on April 29 and May 1.