Celebrating the ninth anniversary of the Grace Cafe . . . a bittersweet moment for founder Ginny Trepanier


city_scope_logo-cmykExactly one year ago, the Grace Cafe celebrated its eighth anniversary with a full house of guests.

That’s what founder and CEO Ginny Trepanier calls those who drop in for food, clothing, comfort and company.

And last Saturday (Dec. 9), on the ninth anniversary, she had this announcement.

“We are coming into a change and I am leaving the cafe and Don (husband Don Trepanier) is stepping down from The Annex, but we have got solid people, Lori (Graves) and Mike (Toth) to take over and run things.

“We have volunteers who are wonderful.”

It was a bittersweet moment for Trepanier. Continue reading

STEGH is facing capacity challenges and hospitals across the province “are having to adjust their services based on the staff that are not available”


city_scope_logo-cmykIt’s not a situation unique to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH) as facilities across the province are grappling with staffing challenges, inpatient overcapacity and stressed emergency departments.
All of which is creating capacity challenges which ultimately impact those requiring emergency care.
In an interview with Karen Davies, STEGH president and CEO, on Thursday (June 30), she confided that the hospital is dealing with a more than 30 percent increase in ER visits.
“In March of this year, we were seeing about 900 patients a week and now we’re seeing over 1,200 patients.
“And so the impact in our emergency department and also our inpatient side where we added 22 new beds in the early days of the pandemic.
“All 22 of those beds are full.”

Continue reading