Hospital outbreak: 18 patients, 12 staff positive
The COVID-19 outbreak on the general care ward at the Pontiac Hospital has grown since it was first announced on April 23, but the situation has stabilized according to the regional health authority CISSSO.
As of May 3, 18 patients and 12 employees had tested positive, in a ward on the second floor that has a total of 37 beds (three of those ICU) and roughly 25 dedicated staff members. Approximately 150 employees work sporadically in that area and were encouraged to get tested as a result. A week before on April 26, there were 11 patients and eight employees positive according to CISSSO.
Weightlifter to compete in Columbia
Xavier Lusignan, Mansfield et Pontefract’s 17 year old . . .
weightlifting phenom, is training for his first international competition as he prepares to head to Colombia for the Junior Pan American Weightlifting Championships on June 7-11.
Lusignan qualified for the event with his performance at the Canadian Junior Weightlifting Championships on March 20-21, where he lifted a total of 289 kg (635.8 lbs) between his two lifts: the clean and jerk – 161 kg (354.2 lbs), and the snatch – 128 kg (281.6 lbs).
Province to open vaccine appointments to all
Christian Dubé, Quebec’s minister of health and social services, announced on April 29 details of the plan to open vaccination to any adult who wants a dose within a two week period, beginning on April 30.
With the confirmation of 2,517,080 doses to be delivered by the end of May, the plan is to allow the lowest adult age group, those aged 18-24, to be able sign up for appointments as soon as May 14.
Shawville woman faces child abduction charges
The Ottawa Police arrested and charged a 32 year-old Shawville woman with numerous offences following the abduction of an infant on May 10, after she was arrested on May 9.
The accused, Nicole Shanks, is alleged to have visited the victims’ home in Barrhaven at approximately 1:40 p.m. on Mother’s Day, after having been in contact with the baby’s mother on a social media chat group for new moms, according to a statement from police.
Police say that under the pretense that she had a gift basket for the new mom, Shanks forced her way in using bear repellent spray to overpower the occupants before abducting the baby and leaving.
After neighbours were made aware of the ongoing abduction, one was able to find the woman and the abducted baby and restrain her until Ottawa Police arrived. Paramedics tended to the baby and found that he was unharmed.
Elementary students return to class
Local elementary school students returned to in-person class on Monday, May 10, although the Pontiac continues to deal with emergency measures otherwise.
Premier François Legault announced the return to in-person class for Outaouais elementary school students at a press conference on May 4.
Western Quebec School Board (WQSB) Director General Mike Dubeau said that while returning to classes brings with it the need to be careful, he believes that staff and students are excited to see familiar faces.
Three deaths linked to hospital outbreak
The COVID-19 outbreak at the Pontiac Hospital is over as of Monday, but the situation resulted in three deaths, according to the regional health authority, CISSSO.
The outbreak, which took place on the second floor short-term care ward, was first announced in a press conference on March 23. Initially, 11 patients and eight employees were registered positive, but the numbers quickly ballooned to 18 patients and 12 employees a week later.
On Monday, CISSSO media relations officer Marie-Pier Després told THE EQUITY in an email that while there were no more hospitalizations, “unfortunately, 3 patients have died of the Covid-19 related to this outbreak.”
Cheese please: new business coming to Fort-Coulonge
A cheesy new business is being planned to open up in Fort Coulonge later this year. Maryse Vallières-Murray is the brains behind Fromagerie La Drave, a small business project she has been working on with a friend since October 2020.
Ultimately, they hope to open a shop where they will make and sell their own cheese, soft serve ice cream and other dairy products.
They are putting a focus on using local ingredients, and are aiming to make it a space where customers can come in and see exactly how their food is being processed.
“We really hope to be able to open next fall,” Vallières-Murray said. “Our wish is to be open in September 2021, but with COVID and all that it might be a bit later, maybe December. That’s for the cheese part; I think for the ice cream we want to wait for the summertime so that will be for summer 2022.”
Fortin talks Bill 96
On May 13, the CAQ government introduced their long-proposed update to the province’s language laws, the 100 page, 201 article Bill 96.
Pontiac MNA André Fortin spoke with THE EQUITY the day after the bill was introduced to share some of his thoughts on how these changes will affect the Pontiac.
“The bill struck me in how sweeping it is in terms of its changes,” he said. “It touches on everything from access to justice, to language of judges to signage to access to higher education, to regulations on small businesses. It struck me just how significant a move this is on the part of the government, to on the one hand to try and promote and protect the French language and on the other hand to restrict English-only services in some sectors.”
Scholarship created in memory of ESSC teacher
The family of a local teacher who passed away suddenly two weeks ago have raised more than $15,000 for a scholarship in his memory.
Michael Kirkham was a beloved educator at École secondaire Sieur de Coulonge who coached basketball and enjoyed the outdoors. He passed away on May 5 at the age of 52.
His children, Stéphanie and Cédric, said their father was a funny, generous soul who told great stories. “[He was] very down to earth,” Cédric said. “You could talk about pretty much anything with him. He’d always be there for anything. He always had something to tell you. It feels like people gravitated towards him.”
After being encouraged to look into creating a scholarship in their father’s memory, the siblings started a GoFundMe page to raise money for what will be known as the Michael Kirkham Education Perseverance Scholarship. It will be awarded to one or more students at ESSC who have demonstrated perseverance in their studies.
Emergency measures lifted, over 55 % of adults vaccinated
Emergency measures were lifted throughout the MRC Pontiac on Monday, May 17, as the region continues to experience steadily lowering case figures.
Measures were also lifted in Gatineau and the MRC des Collines, and the entire Outaouais is now considered a red zone. This means that non-essential businesses are permitted to open with limited capacity, and that the curfew will now begin at 9:30 p.m., from 8 p.m. before. It also means that secondary schools can reopen on alternating days, while places of worship can extend their maximum capacity to 25 from 10.
Educators strike across the Outaouais
On Wednesday, educators from around the Pontiac engaged in a half-day strike to protest the lack of a collective agreement with the provincial government.
The strike by members of the regional educators union (SPPMSO-CSQ) was held at select locations which were kept secret until the last minute.
In the Pontiac, a group picketed outside Pavillion Envolée in Campbell’s Bay. This is the second strike that’s been called in the region, though the first was targeted at the offices of CAQ.
Reopening begins for Quebecers
The provincial government unveiled its opening plan last week, with the first steps coming on May 28 as the curfew will be lifted and outdoor dining will be permitted across the Outaouais.
Premier François Legault made the announcement on May 18 amid a spree of reopening plans being unveiled across the country last week.
Among the aforementioned measures being ushered in beginning this Friday, outdoor gatherings will be permitted on private property, large indoor or outdoor venues will be allowed to hold up to 2,500 people and the travel bans between regions will be lifted will be permitted on private property, large indoor or outdoor venues will be allowed to hold up to 2,500 people and the travel bans between regions will be lifted.
Memorial created for accident victims
A young couple from the Pontiac that passed away too soon will be memorialized th anks to a recent fundraiser organized by one of their friends.
Todd “TJ” Vibert Jr., 23, of Campbell’s Bay and his fi ancée Karine Marion, 22, of Fort Coulonge were killed in a car accident on Hwy. 148 near Quyon on March 8, 2020. Jacynthe Bélair, a long-time friend of the couple decided to memorialize the two with a bench in their honour at the Chutes Coulonge where they both worked.
Year in Review 2021 will continue in next week’s issue
