Bluewater Health is pausing some emergency and urgent surgeries in Sarnia again We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentPeople attending May 5 to 9 with urgent general surgery concerns such as appendicitis or a bowel blockage may need to be transferred to another nearby hospital for treatment after three of Bluewater Health’s five general surgeons left for other jobs or retired in late 2024 The hiatus doesn’t affect people with scheduled surgeries People should still go to hospital emergency rooms if they need help “If they have any gastrointestinal issues or concerns then we will triage them in the ER and decide if we can treat them locally,” he said People will otherwise be taken to London or other nearby hospitals for treatment Locum surgeons who visit from other hospitals and take shifts have been helping fill most of the gaps Contract negotiations are underway for three new general surgeons Haddad said he’s aware of other Southwestern Ontario hospitals also scheduling gaps in general surgery coverage amid a widespread general surgeon shortage I’m actually thrilled we were able to secure the needed three to bring us up to full complement.” Bluewater Health likely will be asked to help other hospitals with coverage when its new recruits arrive “But the main point is that people are coming to the ER” to get assessed transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 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By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Sign In Register Bluewater Health has reached a key milestone in its multi-year redevelopment of the Norman Building’s second floor with the completion of a fully renovated cancer clinic now open to patients in Sarnia The latest phase of construction focused on overhauling the clinic’s patient-facing areas and efficiency for individuals receiving cancer treatment “We are proud to open this revitalized space and move one step closer to a comprehensive cancer care hub,” said Paula Reaume-Zimmer and efficiency for patients undergoing cancer treatment this milestone helps bring our long-term vision to life.” The broader redevelopment plan will eventually bring oncology and laboratory services together in a single location to reduce wait times and improve coordination of care and the final phase will expand the hospital’s outpatient pharmacy to ensure timely access to chemotherapy and other medications said the newly designed clinic offers tangible benefits “This newly renovated space will have an immediate and positive impact on the care we deliver,” she said “It’s designed around the needs of patients and care teams and it reflects the kind of forward-thinking cancer care we strive to provide every day.” one of the first patients to receive care in the updated space it’s a lot more connected,” he said “I’ve been coming to Bluewater Health for treatment for two years and everything will be easier to navigate now.” The project is being funded entirely through community donations led by Bluewater Health Foundation’s fundraising campaign launched in spring 2023 the campaign has reached 80% of its target “We are deeply moved by the outpouring of support from our community,” said Kathy Alexander Executive Director of Bluewater Health Foundation “Every gift makes a difference and brings us closer to ensuring patients can receive high-quality cancer care right here at home in a space designed to support healing and comfort.” Several major donors were recognized during the official opening and the Rotary Club of Sarnia Bluewaterland Construction on the remaining phases continues with full project completion anticipated by early 2026 More information and donation options are available at www.bwhf.ca/donate This article was created with support from advanced editorial tools and reviewed by our team to ensure accuracy and fairness. Learn more More Top Stories > A division of Sarnia Media Group Inc.Locally Owned and Operated The Bluewater District School Board has appointed Wayne Peeters to a vacant trustee position We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentPeeters was sworn in as trustee for the Southgate and Grey Highlands at a special meeting of the board on Tuesday, taking over the seat previously held by Janice Kaikkonen. In February the board declared the seat vacant due to absences. Peeters, who has 30 years in education, has called the Southgate and Grey Highlands area home since 2001 and resides just outside Markdale, according to a news release from the board. The board chose in February to fill the position by appointment, with trustees expressing concerns about the cost associated with holding an election. Candidates who finished second and third behind Kaikkonen in the 2022 election were first offered the position, but with both unable to fill the vacancy, the board invited applications. Peeters’ appointment is for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term. The next municipal election is scheduled for Oct. 26, 2026. “We are extremely pleased to welcome Wayne to the board of trustees and look forward to the experience and insight he will bring to our important work serving the students and families of Bluewater,” Chair Jane Thomson said in the release. “Thank you to the many other qualified candidates who courageously stepped up to put their names forward through their applications in a competitive process. “It is our sincere hope that these dedicated individuals will seriously consider running for trustee in the next municipal election in 2026.” This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy It's the Bluewater Anglers' premiere fundraising event of the year The 49th annual Salmon Derby got underway at 12:01 a.m Hundreds of anglers will fish by boat and on the shoreline up until May 11 Clair River south to the south end of Fawn Island and in Lake Huron from the water treatment plant at Grand Bend west to north of Lexington Salmon Derby Committee Co-Chair Darryl DeKeyser said categories include heaviest salmon there haven't been a lot of reports of king salmon being caught just yet," said DeKeyser "That leaves hope there are some big ones out there for us There's been a lot of coho and trout being reported and some walleye We've been seeing a lot of brown trout this year It's nice to see the results from the work we've been doing." DeKeyser said money raised from the derby goes toward covering the annual hatchery operating expenses "The derby is the main fundraiser for the Bluewater Anglers throughout the year," he said "The main mission for the anglers is keeping the stock of the fish in the lake Over 50 per cent of our operational budget is raised through the derby every year That also goes towards events like kids' training day has the capacity to raise over 150,000 different types of fish including rainbow trout and chinook salmon Fish raised in the hatchery are later released into area waterways In 2024, 1,565 fish were entered into the derby Mark Valiquette of Petrolia reeled in the heaviest salmon Derby tickets must be purchased at least one day before participating in the event For more information, or to buy a ticket, visit the Bluewater Anglers' website Point Edward Fire and Rescue is reminding boaters of the importance of carrying all safety equipment onboard Lambton OPP said first responders were called to the intersection of Brigden Road and Petrolia Line at 2:20 p.m proposed the public-private partnership during a city council meeting on April 29 asking members to support the pilot project and designate nine areas to be used as parking locations The Huron Shores Optimist Club has decided to pull out of a proposed outdoor ice rink in Plympton-Wyoming due to skyrocketing costs Emergency plans are being developed in Kettle and Stony Point First Nation in case the sewage treatment facility fails Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry scored the winning goal 16:10 into double overtime for a 4-3 game seven victory Sunday over the St The annual benefit for Bluewater Surrender will be held at Bud N Mary’s Marina on Saturday  Bluewater Surrender is led by Gail and Ted Gordon and provides a safe house for abandoned and abused children in Guatemala Many were cast out onto the streets through no fault of their own more than 43 children have found respite and care at Casa Agua Azul There are currently 10 children who call Casa Agua Azul their permanent home they will stay until they reach the age of 18 There will be many more children who will come as the poverty and dangers to children in Guatemala remain Bluewater is committed to welcoming each one into a home filled with love and safety social worker and a psychologist who work tirelessly toward the goal of holistic healing They are not there to provide just shelter over their heads but to place a roof over their hearts so they may grow into productive and joyful members of society and purpose — capable of doing great things and making the world a better place Local families and groups from the Keys have traveled to Casa Agua Azul in Guatemala they find themselves transformed in the process This life-changing experience strengthens their own faith and builds compassion inspiring others to get involved through service Richard Stanczyk and his family at Bud N’ Mary’s Marina have hosted Bluewater’s annual fundraiser promises to be a joyful celebration that will include dinner silent auction and a beautiful sunset in the heart of the Keys an evening that will change lives here and in Guatemala Tickets for attending Hula for Hope on Saturday, May 10 can be found at www.bluewatersurrender.org/.  Tickets must be purchased in advance by Monday, May 5. Questions pertaining to donations, support or visiting Casa Agua Azul can be emailed to info@bluewatersurrender.org Get Keys Weekly delivered right to your inbox along with a daily dose of Keys News The Bluewater District School Board has appointed Wayne Peeters to fill its recent trustee vacancy for the Township of Southgate and Municipality of Grey Highlands whose seat was declared vacant this year due to absences The board chose to fill the seat by appointment in He was sworn in at a Special Regular Meeting of the Board on Tuesday He will serve for the remainder of the 2022-2026 term After the board approached the two runner-up candidates from the most recent election, and both Shenika Reid and Bryden Jones indicated they unable to serve, it launched an extensive public recruitment campaign to solicit applications from qualified candidates "We are extremely pleased to welcome Wayne to the Board of Trustees and look forward to the experience and insight he will bring to our important work in serving the students and families of Bluewater," said Chair Jane Thomson "Thank you to the many other qualified candidates who courageously stepped up to put their names forward through their applications in a competitive process It is our sincere hope that these dedicated individuals will seriously consider running for trustee in the next municipal election in 2026." Peeters has lived in Southgate/Grey Highlands since 2001 He resides just outside of Markdale and said he is eager to continue serving his community Soybeans and Wheat all finished lower to begin the week thousands of students in grades 5 to 8 from across the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) will gather for an unforgettable day of motivation and excitement at this year’s Empowerment Day Owen Sound City Council will formally address the province’s Strong Mayor powers at its upcoming May 12 council meeting 100 Women Who Care Grey Bruce proudly launched their 2025 giving season by presenting their largest donation to date — an impressive $33,200 — to Victim Services Bruce Grey The township is encouraging residents to join the "no mow May" movement which leaves dandelions and clover for pollinators to feast on while other food sources are low Over $300,000 is being shared among five different festivals and events in Perth-Wellington LondonNewsTight vote leads to Bluewater Recycling re-voteBy Scott MillerPublished: March 19, 2025 at 1:19PM EDT Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved BLUEWATER – With Huron Shores Area Transit just weeks away from the end of its provincial grant funding Bluewater is throwing its support behind a push to ensure the system continues to run We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentCouncillors approvied a move to support the regional transit system, which is administered by Lambton Shores, during the March 3 council meeting, committing to $228,000 in funding over the next five years. Huron Shores Area Transit offers bus routes throughout the region, including routes running from Sarnia and London that connect many of the area’s smaller communities to urban centres. Route 3, which runs through much of Bluewater, includes stops in Zurich, Hensall and Bayfield, connecting those communities to Sobeys in Grand Bend and Walmart in Goderich. Bluewater treasurer Maggie McBride told councillors that Bluewater’s commitment to contribute to the transit system makes Bluewater the first to sign on to support it financially, excluding administrator Lambton Shores, and that a provincial grant application will require support from other regional municipalities to allow the system to continue running. “A lot of this is contingent on what other municipalities agree to,” she said. “No one else has put on paper what their commitment is. It only works if we all go in together for the most part. There are some of the smaller areas where, if they don’t go ahead, the transit system can still operate but on a reduced schedule not going through those municipalities.” “It’s very up in the air what the future will be.” If every municipality served by the transit system agrees to contribute, Bluewater will be responsible for 18 per cent of its costs. Other contributing municipalities would be Lambton Shores (29 per cent), South Huron (25 per cent), North Middlesex (15 per cent), Lucan Biddulph (eight per cent) and Kettle and Stony Point First Nation (five per cent). Since it first hit roads in late 2020, Huron Shores Area Transit has seen its annual ridership grow substantially to more than 20,000 riders in 2023, while the most recent estimates put 2024 ridership on pace to surpass 35,000 riders. While speaking to council during the Jan. 13 Bluewater council meeting, Lambton Shores chief administrative officer Stephen McAuley said they plan to change how Route 3 functions in the coming years, shifting to an on-demand system where buses will instead be booked by riders, connecting those in Bluewater’s communities to Routes 1 and 2. “It would reduce some of our business expenses by deleting those buses that may not run full all the time,” he said. “That will still allow us to support the local agriculture businesses and tourism.” In a letter to council included in the March 3 meeting’s agenda, White Squirrel Golf Club owner Mac Voisin wrote that the region could be facing a “crisis” if it were to lose access to the transit system. “This service is a lifeline for many, including seniors, students and workers who rely on it for daily travel,” Voisin wrote. “Without adequate transit options, many individuals face isolation, economic hardship, and reduced access to essential services like health care, employment and education.” “Public transit should not be seen as an urban privilege but as a fundamental service for all communities, regardless of size.” Mayor Paul Klopp threw his support behind the system and spoke about previous attempts to establish transit in the region. “I think we should try to do this,” said Klopp. “A lot of people tried things over the years.” “It’s been 20 years of a lot of people trying, and we finally got this little step going. I’m willing to defend this out in the countryside.” This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy general surgery services at Bluewater Health (BWH) will be temporarily closed The hospital said there will be a temporary gap in general surgery coverage because of general surgeon staffing shortages Services will be reduced at Bluewater Health from Monday patients requiring acute and urgent general surgery interventions such as for appendicitis may be transferred to another regional hospital All other hospital services will operate as normal including all pre-scheduled surgeries Bluewater Health said the hospital has recruited more general surgeons who will begin working at the hospital this summer the hospital does not anticipate any further gaps in general surgery coverage," read a news release from BWH "We thank the community for their patience and understanding." residents are encouraged to continue utilizing Bluewater Health emergency departments for all acute medical needs Despite an abundance of new listings in Windsor-Essex A man charged with attempted murder was arrested again while out on bail Irek Kusmierczyk has filed an application for a judicial recount of the votes in Windsor-Tecumseh-Lakeshore and forecasters say more is in the forecast The Cullen Field baseball diamond in MicMac Park will be getting some upgrades thanks to the Jays Care Foundation Bluewater District School Board Trustee Derrick Long is again facing sanctions after being found to have breached the board’s code of conduct policy We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentA 36-page investigative report detailing a code of conduct complaint against Long was presented at the board’s meeting on April 15. The investigation report, written by Michael Maynard of ADR Chambers, alleges that Long attempted to access his board email from outside the country several times, contrary to board policies. The complainants allege Long was in Florida, at his winter home, when he attempted to access the email on several occasions using his cellphone. The access was blocked by the board’s server due to the device’s location, although it is further alleged that Long then used a VPN service to mask his location and successfully logged into his account, according to the report. Long’s account was suspended a day later. When Long was asked  about the allegations and supporting evidence, including social media posts and Long’s digital footprint, Maynard’s report states he offered several versions of events, denying the claims in lengthy emailed statements and a phone interview. None of Long’s denials were persuasive, and most lacked credibility, Maynard found. Attempts to reach Long by phone for comment was unsuccessful. In Maynard’s written sanction recommendations, he says Long’s “conduct was defiant and reckless, even if not flagrant. There is no reason he should not understand board policies, and there is no good reason for him to flaunt them. Trustee Long has shown no remorse, as his conduct throughout the investigation demonstrates.” Maynard notes in his report that Long’s attempts to improperly access his board email occurred while he was facing sanctions for a previous contravention of the board’s code of conduct. On Nov. 5, the BWDSB voted to censure Long and bar him from sitting on all committees of the board for 90 days after an integrity commissioner’s report found he contravened numerous sections of the board’s code of conduct. Those complaints were of offensive behaviour and demeaning language. Maynard’s report alleges Long tried to access his email from Florida on Nov. 11, 12, 13, and 14, before successfully gaining access using a VPN on Nov. 17. Long has at least 14 days to reply to the decision after receiving the notice. Following the deadline for a response (to be provided by the board), the board then has up to 14 days to consider submissions from the trustee, if any, and confirm or revoke the sanctions. The confirmation or revocation of sanctions would be voted on at a future regular board meeting. Long is the Bluwwater trustee for the municipalities of Brockton and South Bruce. He is a retired teacher with years of experience in education who was first elected to the board in 2022. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Bluewater Health is again pausing emergency and urgent general surgeries in Sarnia for several days 23-28 hiatus doesn’t impact people with scheduled surgeries – they’re still proceeding – and people should still go to hospital emergency rooms if they need help But if someone shows up with something like a gall bladder attack or bowel obstruction and needs surgery they’ll be transferred to a nearby hospital Similar transfers happen regularly for patients with heart attacks they’re transferred to a London hospital where the specialists are based “We’re used to transferring people out,” Haddad said “It’s just a matter of being treated elsewhere.” Bluewater Health tries to keep a full complement of five general surgeons to handle unexpected emergency and urgent procedures who are surgeons from other hospitals coming to help us out,” Haddad said There were no issues with the last pause almost two months ago other than additional burdens on other hospitals in Chatham-Kent and London where most patients were transferred “Other hospitals are working above 100 per cent capacity so it is adding more burden on them and we thank them profusely for helping us out,” he said also thanking the local community for their patience More pauses to urgent and emergency general surgeries may happen again during the next few months Bluewater Health is expected to have four general surgeons and a fourth one also agreed to come here pending some paperwork,” Haddad said “There’s light at the end of the tunnel,” he said noting the new recruits must give three months notice to the hospitals where they currently work “We’ll do our best to cover as much as we can for our own community.” will fund improvements to the hospital’s Emergency Department triage area and allow for the purchase of a new point-of-care ultrasound system for patients in Telemetry Medicine “We are proud to make this donation to Bluewater Health not only to support the hospital’s continued excellence but also to recognize a few exceptional individuals whose dedication and care truly stand out,” said Matt Gordon speaking on behalf of The Gordon Foundation and Kel-Gor Limited “Their compassion and commitment make a lasting impact and we hope this contribution honours them and helps further their important work for others in need.” and privacy for those arriving in need of urgent care The new ultrasound system will replace an aging unit used in the telemetry unit where patients receive specialized monitoring and treatment for cardiac conditions “The Gordon Foundation and Kel-Gor Limited have a long history of supporting local healthcare in Sarnia-Lambton,” said Kathy Alexander “This is a meaningful and transformative gift and we are incredibly grateful for their continued support.” This article was created with support from advanced editorial tools and reviewed by our team to ensure accuracy and fairness. Learn more Young innovators in the Bluewater District School Board will bring science and technology projects to the national stage Following the Bluewater Regional Science and Technology Fair (BRSTF) earlier this month six Grey and Bruce County students were selected to represent Team Bluewater at the 2025 Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) This year’s national event takes place May 31 to June 7 at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton where over 400 students from across the country will compete for nearly $1 million in awards Georgian Bay Community School — “Wool pellets or a peat moss alternative?” Sullivan Community School — “Wing shape vs Mary’s High School — “Colostrum – bettering your calves' health” Mary’s High School — “The price of a pedigree; Inbreeding toll on Holstein production” Kincardine District Senior School — “Which hand drying method is cleanest?” who earned Best of Fair honours at the Senior Fair for his exploration of aerodynamics in “Wing shape vs River Armstrong of Elgin Market Public School was named Best of Fair for the project “Will the shape or size of a water wheel determine how much electricity it generates?” A complete list of winners and medalists can be found at www.brstf.org Team Bluewater is hard at work preparing for this national stage with hopes of bringing home awards and recognition for the region Hundreds of fishers are expected to cast their lines this weekend during the Bluewater Anglers' annual spring derby You can fish from either a boat or from the shoreline The boundaries are the same as those for the Salmon Derby Participants fishing from a boat are being reminded that all people fishing must either be a member or have a ticket or the boat will be disqualified Weigh-in is at the hatchery between 4:00 p.m Cash prizes will be awarded for the three heaviest eligible fish entered in each category Members of the Bluewater Anglers get to fish for free Tickets $10 for non-members are available at The Outdoorsman until 5:30 p.m More details are posted to the Bluewater Anglers' website Six students from Grey and Bruce counties are preparing for an opportunity of a lifetime as they have been selected to represent Team Bluewater at the 2025 Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThis year’s fair will take place from May 31 to June 7 at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton More than 400 students from across Canada will compete for nearly $1 million in awards and scholarships including trips to international competitions and the coveted title of being Canada’s Top Young Scientist Team Bluewater has been preparing for the upcoming competition The following team members were selected from more than 138 projects at the Senior Bluewater Regional Science and Technology Fair “Wool pellets or a peat moss alternative?” “Colostrum – bettering your calves health” “The price of a pedigree; Inbreeding toll on Holstein production” special recognition was given to Best of Fair winner Jack Lang from Sullivan Community School The committee thanksed its Canada Wide Science Fair Team sponsors: The Colwyn and Jean Rich Foundation Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario – Bluewater Teacher Local Professional Engineers of Ontario – Georgian Bay Chapter United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 2222 The Bluewater District School Board is seeking applications to fill a vacancy on its board of trustees We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentWith the trustee’s seat for the Southgate and Grey Highlands declared vacant, candidates from across Grey and Bruce counties are  invited to apply for the position prior to an April 4 deadline. The seat had been occupied by Janice Kaikkonen, but was declared vacant by the board last month due to absences. At a meeting in late February, the board decided it would fill the seat by appointing a qualified candidate rather than holding an election. The board first approached the candidates who finished second and third behind Kaikkonen in the 2022 election to offer the position to them, but a board spokesperson said both were unable to fill the vacancy. The successful candidate will serve out the remainder of the 2022-26 term of the board, working in collaboration with the eight previously elected trustees and one appointed First Nations trustee, the board said in a news release Friday. The role of trustees is to support local public education in accordance with the board’s multi-year strategic plan. Through effective governance, they advocate for the success and well-being of all students throughout the board and collectively oversee the responsible stewardship of board resources, the release said. “We look forward to hearing from members of our school communities who are passionate about education and servicing the best interests of our students and families in their journey from junior kindergarten to Grade 12,” board chair Jane Thomson said in the release. “Being a trustee is a rewarding experience, which allows you to positively impact students by contributing to system-wide decisions, such as shaping board policy, budget planning and provincial advocacy efforts.” After the application period closes an interview process for shortlisted candidates will follow. For information about the role and to submit an application, go to www.bwdsb.on.ca/trustees/trustee_vacancy Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account Passenger vehicle traffic at the Blue Water Bridge which connects Michigan and the Sarnia area was down 23 per cent in March compared to the same month last year amid an escalating trade war between the two countries According to figures from the Federal Bridge Corp the company that owns and operates the twin-span crossing connecting Port Huron about 62,400 passenger vehicles travelled across it in March That’s a 23-per-cent drop compared to the approximately 80,700 that used the same bridge in March 2024 Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience This past March was filled with tariff-related threats and ever-moving deadlines from U.S President Donald Trump targeting several countries including Canada and Canadian leaders vowing to respond with similar economic moves “While we can’t comment on the specific causes of these trends we continue to monitor volumes closely and remain committed to maintaining efficient operations for all travelers,” a Federal Bridge Corp car traffic in February and March has been down between 20 to 25 per cent from where we were (last year),” Joe Dedecker Some in Sarnia and surrounding Lambton County have said they’ve cancelled trips to the U.S. even single-day cross-border shopping jaunts but haven’t been there so far this year because of the situation between the countries fascinating real estate market is brought into focus and into context with this newsletter you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc The next issue of Homes in London will soon be in your inbox Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. and Canadian residents on both sides of the river “It’s not the people’s fault,” said Lynne Kiddey “We’ve just got to keep strong and hopefully he (Trump) keeps backpedalling like he’s doing.” Canada has responded with counter-tariffs on close to $70 billion worth of products A request for comment from the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce on whether fewer U.S visitors have been coming to the area wasn’t immediately returned but the chamber issued a statement last week denouncing the economic uncertainty caused by the U.S.-led tariffs Chamber officials said businesses and investors need consistent to thrive and called for Canadian politicians to work together to provide economic stability “This tariff crisis has evolved into a global challenge but it also presents new opportunities for Canada to forge new partnerships and seize emerging possibilities collaborative action to protect Canadian interests and position our country for long-term prosperity,” the Sarnia-area chamber said As for commercial traffic at the Blue Water Bridge The nearly 95,000 vehicles that crossed there was a 35-per-cent increase tbridge@postmedia.com This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared on the cognitively complex continuing care unit at Bluewater Health in Sarnia We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe outbreak was declared in consultation with Lambton Public Health Fewer than 10 patients in the unit have tested positive Visitors were still being permitted but asked to wear a mask while visiting on the unit and visitors with cold or flu symptoms are being asked to stay home Bluewater Health said there were a total of 11 COVID-positive patients at the hospital the most recent statistics were provided on the Lambton Public Health website 9.9 per cent of 71 local COVID-19 tests were found to be positive That puts Lambton on the line between a low and moderate level of positive tests Ontario’s rate of positive COVID test results for the same period was 13 per cent Lambton’s rate in late September reached 35.8 per cent Ontario’s rate was 15 per cent during that reporting period Lambton Public Health said the COVID-19 vaccine is available for individuals six and older Adults can book appointments for the vaccine through their pharmacy or health care provider To book an appointment with Lambton Public Health for a child to receive the vaccine The public health’s agency advice for those experiencing respiratory illnesses include staying home when sick and wearing a mask until Day 10 from when symptoms begin covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze pmorden@postmedia.com This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Broadcaster George Stroumboulopoulos will speak at a May 8 gala aimed at helping fund redevelopment of the Bluewater Health cancer clinic We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe gala an annual Bluewater Health Foundation event began a decade ago and speakers have included hometown celebrities astronaut Chris Hadfield and author David Chilton as well as Dr “We are beyond excited to welcome George Stroumboulopoulos as this year’s keynote speaker,” foundation executive director Kathy Alexander said in a release “George is truly a beloved Canadian icon and dynamic storyteller; we can’t wait to see the exciting energy and fresh perspective he brings to the gala.” There are 400 seats available at this year’s fundraiser being held at the Badger Hangar at Chris Hadfield Airport in Sarnia Tickets are $250 and available from the foundation at 519-464-4439 This year’s goal is to raise between $80,000 and $100,000 with help from sponsors like NGL Supply Co toward a $5-million redevelopment of the Sarnia hospital’s cancer clinic “We’re getting closer each and every day,” and fundraising is currently “about 78 per cent there,“ she said Proceeds from this year’s Dream Home Lottery also were earmarked for the project whose initial estimated cost of $3.7 million has risen to $5 million to create more space at the clinic on the hospital’s second floor it was designed for one oncologist and a part-time general practitioner in oncology but has grown since to three oncologists and  another doctor splitting time between the clinic and hospice work He estimated 500 new cancer patients were seen in 2024 with clinic doctors seeing an average of 10 a week in the clinic which has been getting busier as Sarnia-Lambton’s population ages The redevelopment is currently in the second of five phases ensures we can continue to enhance cancer care services and improve patient outcomes,” Yoshida said in the release “We typically look to someone who would bring a message of inspiration and excitement and uniqueness,” Alexander said of the gala speakers This year’s speaker is host of Strombo on Apple Music and former CBC radio and TV and  Hockey Night in Canada host we remember him from Much Music when he was a VJ and he interviewed all of those rock stars,” Alexander said the list of celebrities and leaders the award-winning broadcaster has interviewed includes Oprah according to the hospital corporation's latest human resources report Not many jobs are going unfilled at Bluewater Health according to the hospital corporation’s latest human resources report way below the 10.7-per-cent Ontario average and sometimes referred to as professional staff Cook said she didn’t know whether other hospitals in the province have lower vacancy rates A Bluewater Health spokesperson said not all hospitals participate in Ontario Hospital Association vacancy rate tracking “But it’s something we have focused on,” Cook said noting that includes planning for retirements and regularly updating human resource needs for Sarnia-Lambton hospitals “We don’t have the longstanding vacancies in nursing like we had had before,” she said noting there’s still turnover amid retirements Where Bluewater Health has hard-to-fill positions – some examples include allied health professionals like physiotherapists and diagnostic imaging technicians – the corporation is working with unions to figure out some creative scheduling to make the positions more attractive to prospective applicants “Just taking a look at what the available hours are and how we creatively can put them together to meet the needs of the workforce who are looking to come here and we want to come here,” she said the average age at Bluewater Health is getting younger Nearly half of Bluewater Health’s employees have less than five years of experience about three years younger than the provincial average Whereas most employees used to leave Bluewater Health by retirement now people most often leave by resignation With more retirements looming during the next several years people will be moving into leadership positions at Bluewater Health at a relatively young age There’s been a focus on preparing people to fill those roles “It is a source of pride for our hospital,” she said “We really do believe in developing our workforce.” She added Bluewater Health values its employees and wants to be a choice employer and encouraged people to explore careers in allied health positions tkula@postmedia.com BLUEWATER – A move that may have seen Bluewater favouring Canadian vendors through its procurement process failed to gain traction in the council chambers Chief administrative officer Laurie Spence Bannerman said the report was created as part of a grander effort that has seen governments throughout Canada looking to put an end to tariffs from south of the border. “We believe everybody wants to put pressure on the U.S. to not do the things that it’s doing,” she said. “The Canadian government, the Ontario government, and all the other provinces as well are looking at what measures they can take, really, in a concerted effort to try and back this down so that jobs aren’t lost.” Some measures that are being considered by other municipalities include excluding U.S. bidders from procurements, holding Canadian-only procurements, preferring Canadian bidders in procurements and penalizing U.S. bidders. According to the report, Bluewater has budgeted to spend nearly $7.5 million on capital projects by March 2027, but municipal staff were unable to provide an estimate of how much the costs of those projects could increase if anti-tariff measures were implemented by the municipality. “Obviously, normally we try to save as much as we can in procurement and so on and so forth,” said Spence Bannerman. “This is an extraordinary thing that is happening.” But some members of council expressed their apprehension about moving forward with anti-tariff measures at the municipal level. Coun. Bill Whetstone said measures that could lead to higher costing tenders could impact Bluewater taxpayers, while boycotting American-owned companies could lead to local job losses. “It’s great to support, and I’m 100 per cent behind it, but we need to be smart with our decision making,” he said. “It may be one by one by one that we look at, and it’s not blanketed across.” Coun. Scott Harris said moving ahead with favouring Canadian vendors would make him feel “guilty” about the tenders he’s voted to support over his years in the council chambers, which, at times, were awarded to businesses outside of the Bluewater area instead of favouring local bidders. “If you want to talk about taxpayer dollars and trying to stay local and stay within our country, we did not change our procurement to stay within our municipality,” he said. Bluewater Mayor Paul Klopp said it may be early to move ahead with anti-tariff measures and suggested refraining from taking action until hearing from the upper levels of government and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. “I think we lobby our provincial government, which is our boss, and let them tell us what (we) may or may not do,” he said. Bluewater BorderFest has announced its headliner for the first night American country singer-songwriter Chase Rice will headline Thursday organizers announced Mississauga's Billy Talent will headline the third and final night The rockers will be joined by Hinder, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Faber Drive on Saturday, June 21. Artists who will join Rice have not been announced Organizers have also not announced the Friday night show Tickets are available now and can be purchased online. Point Edward Fire and Rescue is reminding boaters of the importance of carrying all safety equipment onboard, including personal floatation devices. Lambton OPP said first responders were called to the intersection of Brigden Road and Petrolia Line at 2:20 p.m. on Friday, May 2. Cory Tukeli of Current Inc. proposed the public-private partnership during a city council meeting on April 29, asking members to support the pilot project and designate nine areas to be used as parking locations. The Huron Shores Optimist Club has decided to pull out of a proposed outdoor ice rink in Plympton-Wyoming due to skyrocketing costs. Emergency plans are being developed in Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, in case the sewage treatment facility fails. Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry scored the winning goal 16:10 into double overtime for a 4-3 game seven victory Sunday over the St. Louis Blues. Bluewater Health is refocusing on a seven-year-old initiative aimed at reducing emergency department wait times On the other side of a global pandemic and crippling cyberattack is premised on working with community health agencies such as the Red Cross local nursing homes and Lambton Elderly Outreach to make sure patients no longer acutely ill but still needing supports get those at discharge other people wait longer in emergency for a beds to open up before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in 2020 – waits dropped further during the pandemic – is still largely about culture and understanding the importance of maintaining patient flow said care transitions vice-president Lisa Regan this is a great opportunity to do that refresh,” she said Also key is the recent upgrade of the hospital group’s patient data system that provides things like digital bed management tools In the months after the October 2023 cyberattack staff communicated about bed availability manually “No visuals to really understand the length of stay when (patients are) ready for discharge,” she said Bluewater Health’s current emergency room waits need improvement And the maximum time before nine out of 10 patients were admitted was 23.5 hours between April and October 2024 whose funding varies based on performance in key categories “That just shows the increasing demands on the emergency departments across the province,” she said Reducing waits locally is the top priority “We’re in a good position provincially but” getting back to local targets is the goal is also reducing the number of alternate level of care (ALC) patients in hospital defined as patients who don’t need to be in hospital but haven’t yet left sometimes because they have nowhere else to go Bluewater Health typically has 30 to 35 now but was hovering around double that a year ago A number of programs have helped with the reduction like a transitional care program that’s seen 43 patients stay in 10 beds at Vision Nursing and Rest Home since December 2023 An Ontario Health directive called Home First also was launched in July focused on partner agencies collaborating for discharge planning including identifying complex patients earlier so they don’t languish in hospital and have been focused on sustaining the improvement while long-term bed renovations continue in the community “Everyone is working together to get patients to the right level of care.” The Bluewater District School Board has opted to fill a vacant trustee’s seat by appointment rather than by election We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe board decided Tuesday to appoint a qualified person after Trustee Janice Kaikkonen’s seat was declared vacant earlier this month due to absences. Chair Jane Thomson said the board was recommending against an election due to the expense and anticipated low voter turnout. Trustees who spoke at the meeting agreed. Trustee Tracy Lynn Atkinson said when she was elected in 2018 it was through a byelection. She said that in her area of West Grey and Hanover the total population is about 21,000, and only 719 votes were cast when she was elected. She said at the time she was told the cost to hold the election by phone, computer and in person could be anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. It is the responsibility of the board to cover the cost of a byelection. “That is a huge expense for 719 votes,” Atkinson said. “I am not in favour of a byelection.” The board decided to fill the vacancy it would first approach the candidates who ran against Kaikkonen in 2022. Kaikkonen finished with 1,586 votes, followed by Bryden Jones with 1,377 votes and Shenika Reid with 1,058 votes. If Jones declined the position the board would approach Reid. If both decline, the board would invite applications from qualified people. A message left for Jones was not immediately returned on Friday. “I think the logic, in part, is that it is a time consuming process to go through the application process, and we did have a close election,” Thomson said. Vice chair Jan Johnstone said the Southgate/Grey Highlands area would be best represented by a member from those communities, and noted that both Jones and Reid lived within those municipalities. On Friday, a Bluewater board spokesperson said the next steps for filling the vacancy are underway and the board hoped to have an update as soon as they know more. The board voted on Feb. 4 to declare Kakkonen’s seat vacant under Section 228(1)(b) of the Education Act. The section states “A member of the board vacates his or her seat if he or she absents himself or herself without being authorized by resolution entered in the minutes, from three consecutive regular meetings of the board.” The board plans to finalize the appointment no later than May 5. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Council for the Municipality of Bluewater has another idea for a permanent home for the Bayfield and Area Food Bank Reporting our of closed session at Tuesday's meeting council passed a unanimous motion to direct the CAO to engage the Food Bank about the lease for 2 Jane Street The Food Bank needs a permanent home after the Bayfield Lions Club was sold to make room for a new medical practice the Food Bank is operating out of three dressing rooms in the Bayfield Arena but will need to be out by September when hockey starts back up Because the discussion involved disposition of municipal lands, council was able to hold it in closed, so it's unclear why this property was seen as fitting to meet the Food Bank's requirements The Food Bank has been exploring getting a mobile unit to serve as a future home Members of the Food Bank have yet to respond to a request for comment about the potential new space LondonNewsStrike possible at regional garbage/recycling collector By Scott MillerPublished: March 18, 2025 at 3:40PM EDT The Bluewater District School Board imposed sanctions on Trustee Derrick Long of Brockton and South Bruce for breaching the board's Code of Conduct The board made the decision at its regular meeting on April 15 following an investigation by Integrity Commissioner Michael Maynard The investigation found that Long had repeatedly attempted to access his board email from Florida between November 11 and 18 contravening board policy that prohibits international access to its email system for security reasons Long made multiple failed attempts to access his email and eventually used a VPN to bypass the board's geolocation restrictions "Trustee Long failed in this duty—intentionally," Maynard wrote highlighting the potential risk to the board's IT security The board's sanctions include a formal censure barring Long from attending the June 17 regular board meeting removing him from all board committees for 90 days starting June 1 and replacing him on the Audit Committee for the remainder of the 2024–2025 term The board emphasized the importance of trustees upholding high standards of behaviour and accountability stating that Long's actions had negatively impacted staff leading to undue stress and a loss of morale ​This is the second time in less than a year that Long has been sanctioned for breaching the board’s Code of Conduct Trustee Long has not publicly commented on the latest sanctions.​ a growing number of people have joined ongoing protests outside Bluewater Health calling for accountability from the Sarnia hospital for allegedly failing to properly treat 24-year-old Kayla Fillion during a mental health crisis her father Matthew Jacklin started organizing the protests.  told us about the events surrounding Kayla Fillion’s passing and why he has organized these protests Emergency Medical Services showed up to his home in the very early hours of November 9 Knowing his daughter’s history of struggling with mental health issues he immediately went to check on her in her room.  “I found Kayla sitting by her bed with pill bottles pills spilled on the ground,” he said We made sure she had boots,” he said before the EMS took her to Bluewater Health.  Jacklin told us that Fillion had struggled with her mental health since the age of 14 and had been diagnosed as bipolar with borderline personality disorder she was admitted to the psychiatric ward for approximately three weeks,” Jacklin said Kayla Fillion was a frequent visitor to Bluewater Health “They knew her by name,” Jacklin said We have a stack of like 60 unpaid ambulance bills.”  Because she was so familiar to hospital staff Jacklin believes she was not taken seriously when she came to the hospital that early morning “I feel like my daughter was labeled.” Kayla Fillion was gone approximately two hours before she returned home on foot Factoring in emergency room wait times and the 25 minute walk home “she was in there probably around 30 to 45 minutes being treated or whatever they call it I don’t know how you can do that properly with a mental health issue in a half hour.” He said that he was surprised that Fillion had not been admitted “She started crying again about how the hospital just sent her on her way,” Jacklin said We assumed that the hospital said everything was okay and brought her home.” He said that she seemed a little better and that she claimed to have taken medication prescribed to her Jacklin noted the police report regarding her hospital visit says “treat and release.”  Jacklin said that the rest of the family went about their regular routines when they woke in the morning he went to check in on her and found her dead “I’d never seen anything like it,” he said.  “They should have kept her that night They dismissed her problem and they sent her home and she died.” Jacklin had recorded his daughter before she got in the ambulance that morning “You can’t tell me that within an hour and a half she gets sent back home after being in that state without being admitted It’s unbelievable what they did to her.” So now Jacklin has organized protests calling for accountability from Bluewater Health and advocating for better mental health care and told me I needed to start this.” Bluewater Health said that due to being bound by strict privacy laws they cannot share any information that could identify individuals or disclose specifics about particular situations “Bluewater Health is aware of the situation and the concerns raised by the family We extend our deepest condolences to them during this time of profound loss and grief We take all concerns very seriously and review them with care and diligence What we can confirm is that Bluewater Health’s staff and physicians are committed to providing best practice quality care in a complex healthcare environment.” At the time of the interview with the Journal Jacklin said he had not had any meaningful communication from Bluewater Health and that he had requested a meeting with President and CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer Speaking of the staff at Bluewater he says “it’s clear to me that they’re desensitized Desensitization shouldn’t be a word involved with mental health.”  “What we’re trying to do is invoke change,” said Jacklin As his grassroots movement continues to grow he believes the public pressure from his protests will lead to some answers regarding his allegation that Kayla Fillion was sent home from Bluewater Health hospital the morning she died.  “I know this is going to be a long fight,” he said Was that a collective student cheer that exams were cancelled or just the howling winter wind We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentBluewater District School Board cancelled all high school exams this week due to the multiple days of bus cancellations and school closures Winter weather included up to 100-kilometre per hour wind gusts and widespread snowfall Bluewater spokesman Jamie Pettit said “all attempts have been made” to adjust the exam schedule But with each passing “snow day,” the window of opportunity has passed Students will be graded based on their term mark or final assignments certain classes require instead of exams Pettit said anecdotally student reactions have been mixed to the cancelled exams Some wanted to write their exams in hopes of raising their marks Grade 9 EQAO standardized testing in math has been rescheduled for next week Snow squalls on Tuesday forced 30 Bluewater schools to close Wednesday 15 schools were still closed and just one school remained closed Thursday Friday was a professional activity day and so there was no school There have been 20 days in which school buses didn’t run in at least one school bus zone this school year Bruce Peninsula and Kincardine-area schools have been hit hardest with closures Snow days have long been an escape from the classroom when weather prevented kids from attending school Technology is making it easier to assign work at home though Pettit confirmed all secondary school students have laptops and “are given the opportunity to connect online with their teachers during class time on snow days providing they have internet connectivity and are able to do so.”  Even elementary school students have a similar opportunity now Pettit said with lost teaching time caused by the snow days, “Staff will focus on the big ideas in the curriculum, teaching and assessing main concepts that students require to be successful.”  The Bluewater District School Board has voted to censure Trustee Derrick Long and bar him from sitting on all committees of the board for 90 days after an integrity commissioner’s report found he contravened numerous sections of the board’s code of conduct During Tuesday’s meeting, Bluewater board chair Jane Thomson noted the importance of emphasizing the board’s role in making “its own determination on whether there has been a breach of the code of conduct,” and levy the sanctions it deemed appropriate.  The board passed two motions – one determining that Long did in fact breach the board’s code and a second to levy those sanctions recommended in Maynard’s report against the trustee. The only discussion on the motions during the meeting related to questions around the start date of the suspension and how it would affect quorum of board meetings.  Long, who is trustee for Brockton and South Bruce, was absent from the meeting, as were Southgate and Grey Highlands trustees Janice Kaikkonen and Owen Sound trustee Michael Craig. Had he attended Long would not have been entitled to participate in or vote on any of the issues related to the report.  Phone calls to both Long and Thomson were not immediately returned on Friday.  Among the accusations outlined in the report were that Long attended a meeting virtually from his bathtub, that he referred to other trustees as “stale donuts” and used other inappropriate language, wore a “Straight Pride” T-shirt to a meeting, made public issues that had been dealt with privately and disclosed information that was discussed in-camera.  In his findings, the integrity commissioner noted five complaints filed between Feb. 15, 2024 and May 23, 2024 that cited dozens of issues relative to 15 sections of the board’s code of conduct, as well as other policies.  Some of the allegations against Long fell beyond a six-week time limitation period for filing a complaint and couldn’t be considered for formal contravention findings or sanctions, the report noted. But the commissioner found that behaviour reported to have occurred from November to December 2023 “to be problematic.”  The complaints filed against Long came from Thomson, vice-chair Jan Johnstone and a student trustee.  The integrity commissioner commended the student trustee for “stepping forward to report conduct from an adult that they (quite justifiably, in my view) felt was wrong.”  In responding to the allegations, Long admitted many of the factual allegations made against him and demonstrated regret for his conduct in many cases, the report stated.  “To his credit, Trustee Long acknowledged that his behaviour in many cases was not up to the necessary standard, and he committed verbally (to me) to reforming his conduct,” the report says.  The report went into extensive detail about the complaints levied against Long, the investigation, issues and evidence, Long’s responses to the complaints, and the commissioner’s analysis, findings and conclusion.  In the report, Long described his appearance in the bathtub as an accident. He acknowledged appearing on camera in the bathtub shirtless, but stated he had been having connectivity issues with his computer, so he decided to fix his bathtub, the report said.  “He did not want to get putty on his shirt, so he removed it. He was wearing track pants and slippers,” the report said. “The laptop later connected, and he became visible through his camera while fixing his bathtub shirtless. He stated he was ‘not in a mankini doing a pole dance.’”  The commissioner said Long’s appearance shirtless “regardless of reason, accidental or not – is utterly inappropriate.”  Long also acknowledged wearing a shirt that said: “Thank a Straight Person for your Existence. Straight Pride.” to a board meeting.   “He asserted that he is a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and the shirt was not intended to be offensive,” according to the report. “He self-identifies as ‘2-spirited Indigenous with modest bloodlines’ and as a ‘heterosexual queer.’   “He noted that he was denied entry to a meeting he wanted to attend virtually so he could make a formal declaration of his identities but was denied the opportunity to do so,” the report continued. “He said he wanted to ensure that straight people also feel accepted and able to live their truth. He stated that ‘all prides are wonderful’ and that the board should be open ‘to welcome and accept everyone.’   “While he stated his justifications for wearing the shirt, he now recognizes that it was offensive to some people and stated that he would not do it again, noting that despite his ‘best intentions, perception is reality, and I would not want to cause anyone pain over that,’” the report read.  In his findings, Maynard wrote that he did not accept that Long did not realize his t-shirt was controversial and likely to be viewed as offensive.  “He went out of his way to display it to make a point about his own (somewhat confusing) views on inclusivity,” the report stated. “He purposefully displayed the shirt in a distracting, disrespectful and disruptive manner.   “This was reckless conduct that was at a minimum unprofessional, in addition to bringing embarrassment to the board, and being highly offensive to many.”  In the report, the commissioner notes that Long was provided with a copy of the document for his review and feedback.  Long’s reply on Oct. 9 was: “Hi folks. Well, Lotsa he said she said hearsay and many months ago. Can’t agree with all, but much seems accurate. Thanx….Derrick”  Following Tuesday’s meeting, the board was to send Long a written notice of its finding, at which time he would have 14 days to make written submissions on those findings.  The board would then need to convene another meeting and confirm or revoke its findings. A surgeon shortage is prompting a temporary pause to some emergency and urgent surgeries at Bluewater Health We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentBluewater Health is shutting down urgent and emergency general surgery services Dec Operating rooms remain open and elective and scheduled surgeries are continuing Patients needing urgent and acute general surgeries may be transferred to nearby hospitals in Chatham-Kent urging people still to visit hospital emergency as needed Patients are sent to different hospitals — including Sarnia’s from other hospitals — for specialty care every day noting Sarnia-Lambton isn’t big enough by population to justify having various specialists on hand to cover every case five-surgeon complement for general surgery — mainly for abdominal ailments such as appendicitis and gastrointestinal bleeding — during the years “We’ve always tried to have 100 per cent local coverage for emergencies,” he said two to other hospitals for personal reasons That’s a rapid decline in a short amount of time noting surgeons have to give three months’ notice we had three months’ notice,” for the recent departures and retirement “But we can’t generally recruit someone in three months,” he added Doctors who graduated in July generally have secured jobs and for working surgeons to leave other hospitals to come to Bluewater Health they also have to give three months’ notice “We’ve never had this issue before,” Haddad said about the shutdown Bluewater Health generally does fewer elective surgeries during the holidays Locum surgeons who visit from other hospitals and take shifts have been helping fill the gaps The remaining two Bluewater Health surgeons need a break “You can’t expect two surgeons to cover for five and to be here to cover 100 per cent of the time,” he said Bluewater Health is in talks with five potential replacements and hopes are to shore up local general surgeon numbers within a few months There continues to be enough nursing staff and operating room time available A generous $125,000 donation, from the Gordon Foundation and Kel-Gor Limited, will help fund two major improvements at Bluewater Health in Sarnia. Around $75,000 will be put toward a new point-of-care ultrasound system for Telemetry Medicine. The new system will replace an aging unit, and ensures staff will have access to reliable, state-of-the-art technology that significantly enhances diagnostic precision and patient care. The rest will assist with enhancements to the Emergency Department’s triage assessment area, which are currently underway. The goal is to improve patient flow, comfort, and privacy, helping to ensure a more efficient and dignified experience for those arriving at the hospital in need of urgent care. Gordon Foundation Spokesman Matt Gordon said they wanted to express their gratitude for the compassion and expertise shown by staff at Bluewater Health. "We are proud to make this donation to Bluewater Health, not only to support the hospital’s continued excellence but also to recognize a few exceptional individuals whose dedication and care truly stand out,” said Gordon. "Their compassion and commitment make a lasting impact, and we hope this contribution honours them and helps further their important work for others in need." Bluewater Health Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander is thrilled and extremely grateful. "This is very remarkable donation and investment into care at Bluewater Health," said Alexander. "The Gordon Foundation and Kel-Gor are outstanding partners. This donation will make such a big difference and we're really, really excited. Community support is essential to the work that we do here at the Bluewater Health Foundation. It truly does enhance the quality of care and the technology that we have access to because of donor support." Since it was established in 2003, the Bluewater Health Foundation has provided millions of dollars of financial support to aid in the purchase of equipment and provision of patient, staff and family programs for Bluewater Health. This is made possible thanks to the contributions of businesses, organizations and individuals in the community. overwhelmed with generally older and medically complex patients and recovering after last year's cyberattack is projecting an $18-million budget deficit overwhelmed with generally older and medically complex patients and recovering after last year’s cyberattack We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe hospital group’s board approved a hospital group expense plan and budget update this week the plan would be set before the fiscal year starts in April but cyberattack complications delayed the process until now corporate vice-president and chief financial officer before that legislation was declared unconstitutional and repealed When Bluewater Health’s estimated $9.3-million payout will come isn’t clear noting it’s are working closely with the Ontario Hospital Association to get clarity for all hospitals awaiting more than $6 billion from the province said Bluewater Health board vice-chair Kirk Wilson “We’re spinning our wheels here waiting for the government to do something.” And it’s just one part of Bluewater Health’s financial puzzle About $1.5-million of the projected deficit is tied to inflation on things like medical supplies and not covered by a three per cent base funding increase Bluewater Health received for its April 2024 to March 2025 fiscal year The rest is largely tied to overtime and sick time related in part to operating at about 100 per cent capacity for the last two months Part of that is more patients with respiratory illnesses showing up en masse earlier in the year in Sarnia’s emergency room where volume has been up 10 to 15 per cent Similar surges have been happening elsewhere in the Erie-St which includes Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent Teams nevertheless did “an amazing job” in a difficult situation and communication was really key to understanding what department was experiencing challenges or needed help.” A regional population older than the provincial average also means many admitted patients have multiple underlying and aren’t always able to leave hospital immediately after their acute needs are treated “They’re not safe to be discharged because they’re so frail,” he said That’s complicated by long waits for long-term care beds and that some patients have no family in the area to support them and that kind of occupies the bed and that further increases pressure.” Construction projects at long-term care homes that have hampered Bluewater Health’s ability to discharge medically complex patients Bluewater Health also is working with other community agencies to co-ordinate getting patients home from hospital with supports via an Ontario Health atHome initiative launched in July strategies for all sectors how to help with the ALC situation and help build capacity in hospitals,” she said expected to bolster Bluewater Health’s cybersecurity will require staff training and plans to support staff who need help understanding the new system when it goes live “So that’s why we’re planning for increased staffing and potential slowdowns in some or the areas,” she said noting those budget pressures will be calculated later Training for that upgrade amid system shortfalls and demands to care for more and more complex patients has been a challenging balance “It’s a huge transition at a time when we’re a very Bluewater Health is not alone in dealing with deficits and there are no provincial requirements for balanced budgets in 2024-25 “It’s just a pause and a wait-and-see what’s going to happen with the financials for hospitals across the sector because there’s all the unknowns related to Bill 124,” she said Bluewater Health is lowering the bar when it comes to its target for emergency room wait times We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe maximum time before nine out of 10 emergency room patients were admitted was 23.5 hours between April and October last year way off Bluewater Health’s 14.5-hour target but also well below the 32.4-hour wait at other comparable hospitals said vice-president and chief nursing executive Jane Mathews “We are one of the higher performers throughout the province but yet we still weren’t reaching the target we had set for ourselves,” she said Targets in the annually renewed plan that tracks performance in various categories and ties two per cent of executive pay to results “Our goal will always be to move patients through the system as timely as we can.” Emergency room wait times was one of three targets Bluewater Health missed in 2024-25’s quality improvement plan Others include the number of mental health and addictions patients who show up again in emergency within 30 days – the target was 14.7 per cent and Bluewater Health saw 23.9 per cent between April and June 2024 – and the percentage of employees who’ve had equity The target was 25 per cent and Bluewater Health hit 20.6 per cent said Bluewater Health CEO and president Paula Reaume-Zimmer Diversity training is back on and the target for this time next year is to hit 30 per cent “We are picking that up and we are ready to move forward now,” she said Bluewater Health exceeded patient satisfaction scores with marks around 80 per cent – targets ranged from 61 per cent to 69 per cent – between last April and October “We’re certainly proud of the overall rating of experience that we did achieve,” Mathews said Bluewater Health hit three out of five quality improvement plan targets in 2024-25 Fallout from the cyberattack played a role in the misses including incomplete data available for some categories Whether executive pay will be affected hasn’t been determined “The board is actually currently discussing that,” she said “We’ve not formally heard back as to whether we will receive that or not.” Next year’s plan continues with the same categories but adds tracking incidents of workplace violence Workplace violence data has been collected for years but it’s being calculated in a different way for the new quality plan and ambulance offload times are dependent on paramedics according to data presented to Bluewater Health’s board earlier this week New tracking will calculate the percentage of workplace violence incidents resulting in lost time Ambulance offload times of 40 minutes between April and October 2024 was in the 90th percentile “We need to ensure that we have some standardization in that practice that it’s getting entered in the same way throughout the process,” Mathews said so baseline data is being collected for those metrics The target for mental health and addiction return visits to emergency within 30 days for 12 to 25-year-olds remains 14.7 per cent a boy and the first child for Strathroy’s Jessica Brown and Trevor Howard We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentLevi Joshua Howard weighed 7 lbs. excited and we can’t wait to bring him home,” Trevor Howard said “Baby’s great” and “mom’s doing great,” he said 8 but Brown began feeling signs of labour on New Year’s Eve and she started having some contractions and then it started to get a little bit worse,” he said They decided to head for the hospital in Sarnia at around 1 a.m. just to be sure but were expecting they might be sent home again “We thought maybe we were a little too early,” he said her water broke” and the couple was told by hospital staff He said they were happy Levi is a “January baby” and are looking forward to telling him the story about being Sarnia’s New Year’s baby “Jessica’s mom was with us the whole time,” Howard said “She’s a nurse so it was really great having her here.” Howard said Levi is the couple’s “rainbow baby,” after losing two previous pregnancies “We couldn’t have asked for a better way of starting the year,” he said Levi is a name he and Brown chose together and Joshua is the name of Brown’s younger brother Howard works for TD Waterhouse and Brown works for the YMCA of Southwestern Ontario Because the maternity department at the hospital in Strathroy closed in 2024 the couple was given the option of going to Sarnia “We really couldn’t have picked better,” Howard said He said they were both thankful for the care provided at the hospital “We’re just happy to start the New Year as a family,” Brown said “We’re really looking forward to everything that comes with that,” Howard said BLUEWATER – The former Bayfield public school has been sold by Bluewater making way for a proposed new medical practice in the village We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe sale was greenlit by council during a brief Feb. 4 special council meeting during which councillors unanimously passed a motion approving the move to sell the property at the corner of Charles Street and Municipal Road for $700,000. The building was constructed in 1957 and converted into the Village of Bayfield municipal office a decade later. It has been leased to the Bayfield Lions club since 2004 and has been used by many of Bayfield’s community groups as a meeting space. As well, the Bayfield Area Food Bank opened at the former public school last year and currently serves more than 100 clients. Bluewater first received word from Zulk Enterprises that they’d be interested in creating a new medical practice on the property late last year, and the company plans to bring as many as four medical practitioners to the community. Council has yet to make a decision about the use of the $700,000 from the building’s sale, but an effort headed by several of Bayfield’s prominent community groups, including the Bayfield Lions Club and the Bayfield Ratepayers Association, is pushing the municipality to use the proceeds from the sale to provide space for the Bayfield community and the displaced food bank. According to a report presented during the meeting by chief administrative officer Laurie Spence Bannerman, the municipality has been looking for places to relocate the food bank, including local churches, private properties and municipal buildings. So far those efforts have come up short in finding a solution that would be ready by April 4, when the current location is expected to be vacated. In her report, Spence Bannerman wrote that relocation to the Bayfield Agricultural building would require about $125,000 in work, including the installation of a barrier free washroom, a kitchen area and insulation to be suitable for the food bank. The Bayfield Lioness building at the end of Christy Street was presented as a possibility for the food bank, but a trailer would be needed for additional space and upgrades to the building’s insulation, heating, finishes, flooring and electrical may be necessary. While a solution hadn’t been found for the food bank yet, Bayfield Coun. Bill Whetstone said the municipality and councillors would continue to help however they can. “Obviously, this doesn’t end tonight,” said Whetstone. “We’ll be continually working with the food bank going forward to try and come to some sort of resolution for them.” Though the Feb. 4 meeting was just less than 10 minutes long, Mayor Paul Klopp said it was important as an opportunity for councillors to ask questions about the sale of the building and to provide information to the public. “We wanted to make sure that people are aware of ideas that we’ve been looking at, and of course, we’re going to continue to work at,” he said. “We look forward to working with the community and the food bank to reach the best decisions we can. It’s about the people and the families. We understand that, and we’re going to do all that we can to work with the community as we move forward.” A report is expected to be presented at a future meeting where councillors will decide how the proceeds of the sale will be used. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The decision was made during a special meeting on February 4, 2025, in accordance with Section 228(1)(b) of the Education Act, whic… Subscribe to The Owen Sound Current to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives. The Bluewater District School Board (BWDSB) has declared Trustee Janice Kaikkonen\u2019s seat vacant following her absence from three consecutive regular board meetings Kaikkonen was the trustee for Southgate and Grey Highlands The decision was made during a special meeting on February 4 in accordance with Section 228(1)(b) of the Education Act The Bluewater District School Board has declared trustee Janice Kaikkonen’s seat vacant We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentOn Feb. 4, after a closed session with only one item on the agenda, board members voted to declare Kaikkonen’s seat vacant under Section 228(1)(b) of the Education Act. That section of the Education Act states “A member of the board vacates his or her seat if her or she absents himself or herself without being authorized by resolution entered in the minutes, from three consecutive regular meetings of the board.” Attempts to reach Kaikkonen by e-mail were unsuccessful on Monday. BWDSB spokesperson Jamie Pettit said the board will determine how to fill the now-vacant seat at its next meeting. The Education Act requires the board to fill the vacant seat by appointing a qualified person or through by-election within 90 days of the vacancy. If the board chooses to fill a trustee vacancy through a byelection the cost would be the responsibility of the board. The local municipality will provide the board with applicable information regarding the implications of holding a by-election (e.g., estimated cost and previous election results). To be appointed to the board a person must be qualified to vote for trustees of the board and a resident in the area of jurisdiction. The BWDSB policies state appointments to the board may be preceded by an application and interview process. Kaikkonen was elected a trustee for Southgate and Grey Highlands in 2022. The Bluewater Anglers is holding its annual open house at the hatchery in Point Edward this weekend "The purpose of the open house is to show people how we raise fish so we can release them into our water here and we have Chinook Salmon that we raise here," said Spokesperson Ross Bishop The not-for-profit organization then releases fish into the upper St The free open house events will be held both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m Bishop said he's hoping to see a good turnout this year will be available to buy (cash only) during the open house events "We're also going to have some draw prizes," said Bishop Attendees will also be able to register for the Bluewater Angler's annual Kids Training Day The springtime event will focus on fishing techniques and boat safety The hatchery is located at Waterfront Park Bluewater District School Board trustees on Tuesday confirmed their Nov 5 decision to censure Derrick Long for code of conduct breaches We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe board agreed with its integrity commissioner’s findings that the Brockton-South Bruce trustee breached seven sections of the code of conduct governing trustee behaviour. The censure was dealt with briefly, without much discussion at a special meeting. This followed an October integrity commissioner’s report and recommendation, which included censuring Long and barring him from sitting on all board committees, including the committee of the whole, for 90 days beginning on Jan 6, which the board finalized Tuesday. Long may continue to participate in monthly regular board meetings where votes are taken every third Tuesday of the month, the board clarified at Tuesday’s meeting. A Bluewater board statement, published on the school board’s website Wednesday, said trustees are held to a high standard of behaviour and accountability. They must act with decorum and respect, as models of “the exemplary behaviour we aim to cultivate in our students.”  “Trustee Long had consistently fallen short in this area by failing to act with respect and professionalism at board meetings, and in interactions outside of board meetings. These interactions have left staff and trustees feeling harassed, threatened, and uncomfortable,” the statement said.  Students have also been negatively impacted by witnessing Long’s behaviours “that have contributed to undue stress and a loss of morale” the statement said.  “We hope that he will use this experience as an opportunity to take the necessary steps to rebuild relationships and address certain behaviours moving forward.”  Long sent two electronic messages to the board on Nov. 21 in response to the pending censure. He called for the suspension to be cancelled or at least to begin early, starting Dec. 2.  He wrote “being a better trustee these next 2 or 3 years, is my hoped for legacy.” He also wrote: “With my remaining breaths, and there may be less of those rather than more, I fiercely promise fulfillment of my desire to improve, learn and seek and practise peace.”  He wrote “I wish to seek your individual and collective forgiveness.” He cited instances where he felt ill-treated and acknowledged he can “easily discomfort people.”   He criticized board administration for plans to cut down part of the Flesherton “Kindy Forest” to make space for portables, and what he said was a lack of community consultation.  “For too long, decades not years, bwdsb has cruised in the wrong direction, with the director directing the board. It’s time to turn the ship around, let parents have a voice, and let trustees steer the ship.  Long’s response to the censure also included a survey question in which readers were to text which option best described him.   “I need to do a better job of staying in my lane and will prioritize that. The key to humility is to recognize the person we are now and become the person we want to be. I need growth in this regard. Actions, not words,” he wrote.  An Oct. 10 report by integrity commissioner Michael Maynard of ADR Chambers recommended the sanctions against Long after an investigation was conducted as a result of numerous complaints and accusations against the trustee about his offensive behaviour and demeaning language the accusers said was levelled at other trustees and board staff. Formal complaints were filed between Feb. 15 and May 23 by Bluewater board chair Jane Thomson, vice-chair Jan Johnstone, and a student trustee.  Among the accusations outlined in the report were that Long attended a meeting virtually from his bathtub, that he referred to other trustees as “stale donuts” and used other inappropriate language, wore a “Straight Pride” T-shirt to a meeting, made public issues that had been dealt with privately and disclosed information that was discussed in-camera.  proves itself a purpose-built fishing boat ready to tackle offshore conditions like few boats its size An Armstrong engine bracket holds the twin ­Yamaha F200s and adds 3 feet of length to its 25-foot hull It has a wave-slashing 24 degrees of deep-V goodness at the ­transom and an even-sharper 44 degrees at the entry because deep deadrise can make a boat tender all Bluewaters now come standard with Seakeeper’s Ride system This replaces standard trim tabs with what’s called a Vessel Attitude Control System this makes 1,000 observations and 100 corrections per second using unique cupped blades that travel only a fraction of an inch when at planing speeds The system reduces pitch and roll by up to 70 percent while the boat’s at speed Hardcore anglers will love the absence of fixed bowrider seats and a molded-in stern bench I taped 47 inches of deck aft of the ­leaning post but they are easily removable for ­fishing Other features that let you know the 25T is a real-­deal fishing boat include the twin 24-gallon transom livewells and a 133-gallon bow fish box/storage locker that can hold tuna up to an estimated 250 pounds Our test boat sported 21 total rod holders including 12 set into the gunwales (eight are standard) The helm features a pair of flush-mounted Garmin 8612xfv multifunction displays and can accommodate up to 16-inchers Rather unusual was the optional thin windshield made of the same polycarbonate material as the optional side panels The twin Yamaha F200 outboards proved an ­excellent option and the best cruise speed was 25.5 mph (3,500 rpm) it offers it a theoretical range of nearly 400 miles ­Bluewater also rigs twin Suzuki and ­Mercury outboards up to 500 hp Choices in power: just another benefit of owning the ­Bluewater 25T Read Next: How Fishing and Boating Can Change Life for the Better Parker Boats’ 2600 CC ($255,616 MSRP) measures 26-feet-by-9-feet-6-inches—wider than the Bluewater The lockable console offers 65 inches of headroom and comes with a portable -toilet Power it with up to twin 250 Yamaha outboards Bluewater Sportfishing Boats – Ft. Pierce, Florida; bluewatersportfishingboats.com Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen Boating may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site Copyright © 2025 Boating Firecrown Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited The recent blast of winter weather comes as good news for Bluewater Anglers as the group plans to hold its first club event of 2025 and its first traditional ice fishing derby since 2018 Director Darryl De Keyser said they're excited to hold the event again. Warm temperatures and COVID-19 restrictions previously forced the club to either cancel the derby or hold it virtually. De Keyser said it's tough to gauge how many people will participate this year since most will likely buy tickets on Friday afternoon. "There's been a good response online," he said. "We've organized it on a free fishing weekend where you don't need a licence to participate." Canadian residents can fish for free four times per year in Ontario: Family Day weekend, Mother's Day weekend in May, Father's Day weekend in June, and Family Fishing Week from June 28 until July 6. De Keyser said the goal is to encourage residents to try ice fishing if they haven't before but those familiar with the sport are welcome as well. He said they plan to have the fishing area marked off with some holes drilled in time for Saturday morning. The weigh-in will be at 11 a.m. at the Sarnia Bay Marina boat launch. Tickets will be available to purchase for $5 per participant at The Outdoorsman until 4:30 p.m. on Friday and at the marina on Saturday morning, beginning at 7:30 a.m. "Ninety per cent of the fees will go back into the prizes and 10 per cent will go toward the hatchery," De Keyser said. "The hatchery is completely volunteer run, completely depends on events and grants throughout the year to help operate the hatchery itself and also, roll back into children's events that we have, including the open house coming up in March." As stated on the event page, all fish entered must be caught in Sarnia or Point Edward. De Keyser said Tim Hortons will provide timbits and hot chocolate at the event. Bluewater Health began reporting “never events” to Ontario Health earlier this year We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentNever events are incidents resulting in serious patient harm or death and that could be prevented through organizational checks and balances a new Bluewater Health quality and patient safety plan says Bluewater Health’s clinical support services vice-president since Bluewater Health answered Ontario Health’s call to start voluntarily reporting last January “We are pleased to be able to participate,” she said Sharing what happened and how the organization fixed the problem also serves as a learning example provincially “Recommendations and initiatives are shared back to other organizations for learning,” she said Five of the six events at Bluewater Health since January resulted in no harm to patients and there have been none at Bluewater Health in the last two quarters “We identify whenever there is a situation that could be a never event so that we can put checks and balances in place,” Mathews said Never event examples from Ontario Health include improperly sterilizing instruments a patient leaving high-level observation areas without staff knowledge The plan places patient safety at the centre of everything Bluewater Health does and backs safety-oriented practices and procedures with things such as the hospital corporation’s strategic plan and the corporation’s quality improvement plan Safety in the plan applies to safe medical care safety for patients and staff from violence and creating a just and trusting culture where people feel safe Hospital group programs encourage reporting near misses; there’s a “red rule” that makes sure patients are asked for two pieces of identifying information like their names and birthdays at every interaction; and Bluewater Health employs best practices and has been recognized for that since 2015 as a best-practice spotlight organization by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario The quality and patient safety report is updated annually with new goals quality and health-care experience for everybody in our community,” she said no Bluewater Health staff missed time due to injury in July and August when there were 28 incidents of workplace violence reported There were 62 incidents reported between January and August Mathews credited a hospital group program that’s patient-centered and focuses on prevention Bluewater Health says the first baby of 2025 was born on New Year's Day "Mom and Levi are doing great," said Howard Howard said the maternity ward is no longer open at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital so they decided to have their baby in Sarnia I don't think we could have chosen a better spot to go Everyone here has been nothing short of fantastic," said Howard they had a lot of questions but the hospital staff were friendly and supportive with their answers The new parents are feeling a lot of emotions as they prepare to take baby Levi home She has a big family and a lot of nieces and nephews who are younger and she was able to be involved in that process as they grew up So she's got a lot of experience -- I'm a bit of a newb (newbie) myself but I've got a great teacher." Howard said they expected to be discharged from the hospital Thursday evening "We have lots of family and friends who are very eager to meet [Levi]," chuckled Howard The Bluewater District School Board leadership will be unchanged for 2025 We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentIn its annual elections on Tuesday, the board voted to appoint Jane Thomson as chair for a fifth consecutive one-year term. Jan Johnstone was acclaimed to the vice-chair’s position and will also serve in that role for a fifth consecutive one-year term.  “I look forward to this year. We have lots of work to do,” Thomson said following the election. “We are strong when we work together and I look forward to us having a good year.”  Thomson, the trustee for South Bruce Peninsula and Northern Bruce Peninsula was elected chair in a secret ballot vote by trustees at Tuesday’s meeting. Her only challenger was Brockton and South Bruce Trustee Derrick Long, who attended the meeting by phone and nominated himself.  The board voted on Nov. 5 to sanction Long for violating seven sections of its code of conduct.   Those sanctions, which came following an integrity commissioner’s report and recommendation, includes censuring Long and barring him from sitting on all board and committee meetings for 90 days beginning on Jan 6. Long was given the opportunity to submit a response to the board, which still needs to finalize its decision. Long said Friday that he was contemplating a response. The board has the ability to confirm or revoke the sanctions against Long.  Johnstone, trustee for Kincardine and Huron-Kinloss, was acclaimed to the vice-chair’s position after Owen Sound Trustee Michael Craig declined when he was nominated by Long.  “My role as a vice chair is to be supportive of the chair and also to help our board remain focused on our strategic plan in the upcoming year,” Johnstone said.  After close to 40 years with the local public education system Bluewater District School Board director of education Lori Wilder is retiring We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentThe Bluewater board of trustees accepted Wilder’s retirement letter in an in-camera session on Tuesday, before the announcement was shared at the regular meeting of the board and board staff were informed via an e-mail the same evening. Wilder’s final day will be Aug. 31.  Wilder thanked everyone for what she called an unforgettable career, adding she is incredibly grateful to have been surrounded by individuals dedicated to the safety, well-being and success of children.  “Our students are at the heart of everything we do,” Wilder said in a news release. “I appreciate the support I have received from staff, the wonderful senior team, colleagues, and the board of trustees during my tenure, and am proud of the many things we have accomplished together.”  Among the accomplishments Wilder highlighted were a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, ensuring the board’s finances were in order and advancing a commitment to student achievement and well-being.  “I leave knowing that Bluewater’s future is positive and strong,” she said.  Wilder has long-served the board as a teacher, vice-principal and principal at schools in Owen Sound and Meaford, before moving into a supervisory position with the Bluewater board as student success leader at the beginning of 2005. Months later she was appointed supervisor of student services and remained as a superintendent with the board until appointed director of education in 2020 after Alana Murray retired.  Supporting students and developing positive relationships with others has been at the heart of Wilder’s work throughout her career and in her time as a superintendent of education she had oversight of various elementary and secondary school areas, the release noted. Her broad portfolio comprised of special education, student mental health, parent involvement, the student senate, adult education, skilled trades, student athletics and human resources.  In five years as director she has led system efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion, improving student outcomes in numeracy and literacy, fiscal responsibility of the board’s resources, multi-year strategic plan development and more, the release said.  She has been a strong advocate for Indigenous education and strengthening relationships with local First Nations communities, and was instrumental in the implementation of Gender Sexuality Alliance groups in many schools to support 2SLGBTQIA+ students, the release said.  Board chair Jane Thomson said they are thankful to Wilder for her unwavering leadership, commitment and service to students, families and school communities.  “Her legacy and footprint are profound, particularly through the lasting positive impact she has made on student well-being, and her long career as a champion of marginalized and vulnerable students,” Thomson said in the release. “It is a bittersweet farewell as we wish her many rewarding and happy years in her well-earned retirement.”  The board plans to share information on Wilder’s replacement in the director of education’s position when details become available.