Following Monday’s (May 15) council session, there was a public meeting to deal with draft official plan and zoning bylaw amendments.
Now normally these are pretty cut-and-dried affairs, usually devoid of colour.
Not in this case.
The meeting dealt with amendments required at the site of Hospice of Elgin, located at the top of the hill overlooking Waterworks Park.
Part of the meeting was devoted to a short presentation from Laura Sherwood, representing Hospice of Elgin.
Through several visuals, we were able to get a first look at what the facility will look like, with construction expected to begin later this summer.
Sherwood described it as follows.
“Hospice will be quite unique in our community. We have an incredible site at Waterworks Park and hospice will be tucked in the woods and have a cottage-like feel.”
What will the facility look like?
“The design really has been anchored into some core areas,” advised Sherwood.
“An L-shaped portion of the structure will be the private suites for the families coming to hospice.
“And that will touch 120 families each and every year who come and stay at hospice.
“Just over 400 individuals will be able to come into hospice, access care but then go back home. Hospice will no longer be a place where you come just to die, but a place where you come for care.
“That means individuals who need care in our community will come in to access our palliative care clinic and go back home.
“And, when that journey becomes a bit too tough, individuals can come into hospice for a short stay. That means caregivers in our community can get a break while their loved one receives that expert care and, again, go back home.
“So, no longer is hospice a place for just final moments. It will be a place filled with life and care along the journey, even for those individuals who never come to hospice.
“Families who lose a loved one in our community or beyond will still be able to access grief and bereavement programs through Hospice of Elgin.”
Sherwood noted over 200 volunteers will support the operation of this building and the care provision in addition to 30-plus new jobs.
So, what is the inspiration for the design of Hospice of Elgin?
“This doesn’t feel clinical. It doesn’t feel like our important hospitals. It really is a tremendous space that says, welcome.”
Sherwood explained, “The community has told us they are looking to have a strong connection to a natural environment, so you will see that cottage-like feel, where you have images of that timber structure, stone, lots of glass and connection to that natural environment.
“So, not only will trails be wrapped around the building for the community to access, but the space inside will also be there for residents, family and our community to use.
“You see there are comfortable spaces for kids to jump on the couch, visit with their loved ones. You’ll see there are spaces for gathering, whether it’s for Easter dinner or Christmas.
“Also spaces for families to be supported by refreshments so they don’t need to leave hospice at those critical moments.
“And then, of course, there are the rooms and private suites where we’ve actually made some enhancements. Each of the private suites from hospice will have its own private patio.
“There are hundreds of individuals in the community who have been working behind the scenes who have been working to advance this project to build a special space for all families in our community.”
“That means the beds can wheel right out into the beautiful site where they can enjoy breakfast, listen to the birds or gaze up at the stars.
“Life will continue, right until the very end at our hospice.
“This doesn’t feel clinical. It doesn’t feel like our important hospitals. It really is a tremendous space that says, welcome.
“Welcome to all in our community. It is grounded by timber and natural materials because we want you to have full confidence that your loved one will be well cared for.
“But also, again, that strong connection to the natural environment.
“There are hundreds of individuals in the community who have been working behind the scenes who have been working to advance this project to build a special space for all families in our community.”
POLICING BY CONSENT
It was an event the city has not witnessed in at least 50 years. On Tuesday (May 16) of this week, a Change of Command was held to install Marc Roskamp as the city’s 18th police chief.
It was a ceremony steeped in history and tradition, featuring a pair of pipe bands, a smudging ceremony, an Indigenous drumming group Black River Singers and a moving tribute to the area’s Special Olympics athletes.
It was also the first time in the service’s history that five St. Thomas police chiefs gathered for such an event: Wayne Howard, Bill Lynch, Darryl Pinnell, Chris Herridge and Marc Roskamp.
Kennedy Freeman photo
Many in attendance were from other centres in the province and so Insp. Steve Bogart honoured the past by paying tribute to Colin McGregor, a St. Thomas Police officer shot in the line of duty.
“While on duty he was shot attempting to execute a warrant in the city of St. Thomas,” explained Bogart.
“Constable McGregor subsequently died of his injuries at Memorial Hospital and left behind his wife Muriel who was 23 years of age and two young sons, Raymond McGregor and Colin McGregor junior.
“These officers are truly heroes in life, not in death.”
“We made efforts to continue to honour this fallen colleague and hero by officially having the St. Thomas Police Service headquarters named the Const. Colin McGregor Building.
“In the front entrance of our lobby, a bronze plaque adorns the wall.
“Our St. Thomas Police Service Pipes and Drums Band wears the McGregor tartan in honour as well.”
A moment’s silence was held to honour all fallen colleagues who died in the line of duty.
“These officers are truly heroes in life, not in death,” stressed Bogart.
After a nearly 35-year career with the St. Thomas Police Service – the last five at the helm – Police Chief Chris Herridge announced his retirement last October, calling it, “Time for a new journey.”
He conveyed a personal thank-you to members of the police service and the residents of St. Thomas at Tuesday’s event.
“All of your jobs are equally contributing, but also equally stressful.
“Take care, stay humble and have some fun.
“I would do this job all over again without hesitation. Thank you St. Thomas and thank you STPS.”
“We, the St. Thomas Police Service, police by consent. Your consent. This precious responsibility is something that we value and respect beyond all things.”
Paul Tunks, president of the St. Thomas Police Association, congratulated Roskamp on behalf of the association, adding on a personal note the chief’s interest in architecture. Information gleaned while walking the beat with Roskamp shortly after Tunks joined the service.
“I would be remiss to say this really is a tough time in policing, as we all know. With the loss of our colleagues nationwide while on duty.”
Tunks continued, “We need to continue relying on each other, being each other’s teammate.
“I can’t think of anyone better to lead us through these tough times and to continue progressing our service than Chief Roskamp.
“The city and our people are lucky to have you lead them. You’ve worked hard to accomplish this goal.”
Chief Roskamp stressed his commitment is to ensure every interaction with a member of the public is converted into an opportunity to improve trust and confidence in the services police provide.
“We, the St. Thomas Police Service, police by consent. Your consent.
“This precious responsibility,” noted Roskamp, “is something that we value and respect beyond all things.
“Our legitimacy and the confidence you have in us is strengthened by every interaction we have with you.
“We all police to make a difference, we all play a role in making this community healthy and safe.”
“For it is you that we all rely upon to keep us truly free from chaos, to be that thin blue line.”
One of Roskamp’s critical priorities is to build up the resiliency of members of the police service.
“If we are healthy on the inside, we will be healthy to deliver services on the outside.”
Proudly watching the ceremony was Roskamp’s father, the retired chief of the Chatham Police Service.
Prior to the official handing over of the ceremonial sword, the city’s new Deputy Chief was sworn in.
Scott Barnes is a 28-year veteran of the service who was promoted to inspector in April 2018.
Barnes told members of the service the public relies on them to keep residents “free from chaos.”
He stressed, “What you do, does matter. You matter. Please keep one another safe.
“And to you guardians, please remember to be compassionate, humble, stay vigilant and remain true to your purpose.
“For it is you that we all rely upon to keep us truly free from chaos, to be that thin blue line.”
Related post:
THE GREAT RE-SCOPING MYSTERY
Reader Ann Lapchinski sent us an email last week questioning the vision of administrators at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital on the expansion program (see the item below).
It is worth revisiting what led up to The Great Expansion at STEGH because if you go back more than a decade, it had become a political football.
To be fair, plans to develop a new tower at the northwest corner of the Elm Street property were envisioned long before anyone could have imagined life would be put on hold for more than two years because of a coronavirus.
And certainly, no one could have predicted St. Thomas would become the epicentre of EV battery production in Canada by hosting a Volkswagen gigaplant, with the potential to attract several thousand new residents to the area.
So, let’s travel back to September 2011 and then health minister Deb Matthews visiting the city to give the green light to hospital expansion.
It is prudent to note her appearance in St. Thomas was just three weeks in advance of the October provincial election.
Surely just a coincidence.
Fast forward to March 2012 and the status of hospital redevelopment is now in limbo following delivery of the provincial budget.
According to Matthews, the project is neither cancelled nor delayed.
Instead, it is being “re-scoped.”
She explained, “We are taking a second look at the project. We are in very difficult times,” she reminded. “It was a tough budget.
“Worst of all, the Liberals needed to lie to us about the state of affairs in order to get elected. It’s time the government takes some responsibility and be honest with the public.”
“We had to make difficult decisions and we think that’s our responsibility as government, to make sure that our decisions reflect both the need and the fiscal reality.”
Isn’t it marvellous this fiscal reality was not on the radar of the Dalton McGuinty government six months previous when Matthews journeyed to St. Thomas for the hospital announcement?
This was not lost on then Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek.
“Ontario’s fiscal reality is nothing new. It was clear back in September that Ontario faced a $16 billion deficit,” stressed Yurek, “if the minister knew she couldn’t follow through on the investment, why would she make this promise?”
Yurek continued: “Worst of all, the Liberals needed to lie to us about the state of affairs in order to get elected. It’s time the government takes some responsibility and be honest with the public.”
“Politics is a challenging profession and there are the ups and downs. I wasn’t part of decision-making in Toronto or any of that. What went on behind the scenes, I wasn’t part of that.”
And so what exactly would re-scoping involve?
We contacted former MPP Steve Peters in April of 2012 to try and determine what his former party was up to.
“I don’t know,” he laughed. “I’m not involved in it. My involvement with the hospital is an arm of the foundation they call the council of chairs, which is involved in the fundraising and that’s been my focus.
“And whatever that (re-scoping) looks like in the end, we ensure the local share (of possible financial commitment) is raised and that has been my focus.”
He continued, “I don’t think anybody really knows what re-scoping means and that is what Paul (hospital CEO Paul Collins) has been trying to ascertain. And, I don’t have the answer.
“Politics is a challenging profession and there are the ups and downs. I wasn’t part of decision-making in Toronto or any of that. What went on behind the scenes, I wasn’t part of that.”
And now you know the rest of the story.
THE ECHO CHAMBER
That item last week on the future of St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital generated the following feedback on the situation the facility now faces.
Ann Lapchinski says the planning behind The Great Expansion of 2018 was short-sighted. We have delved into the back story of the undertaking in an item above to illustrate there is far more to the story.
“Very short-sighted of the hospital’s administrators not to push for more stories when the 2018 expansion happened. Typical of CEOs not to look at the longer term needs.”
As to dealing with parking at the hospital, Dave Mathers says why not construct a multi-level parking structure?
We confirmed with the hospital this week that any funding granted to a hospital only covers the brick-and-mortar costs of a dedicated structure. It does not pay for equipment or internal furnishings.
Parking facilities are not subject to any funding opportunities from the province and are the sole responsibility of the hospital administration to arrange for financing/fundraising and construction.
“Regarding the suggestion in your story of moving STEGH, I believe there is a much simpler solution.
“As St. Thomas has grown there must be ‘big city’ thinking implemented and that would be to build a several-story parking garage on the front part of the current east parking lot.
“That would free up the back part of the lot for new construction.”
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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.
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