Stats Canada says Manitoulin people five years older than Canada's mean

by Jim Moodie

MANITOULIN-Seniors on Manitoulin are nearly as numerous as children, figures released by Statistics Canada last week reveal.

Out of Manitoulin's total population of 13,090, the number of people aged 65 and over is 2,405, according to census data, meaning that 18 percent of our population consists of retirees. Put another way, one in every six Islanders is a senior citizen.

Youth under the age of 15, meanwhile, are only slightly more abundant, at 2,655, or 18.1 percent of the Island population.

The Island is not alone in this greying trend. Nationwide, the number of those aged 65 and over reached a record high, up 13 percent from the last census in 2001, while the under-15 population fell to its lowest figure ever, declining 2.5 percent.

Manitoulin's proportion of youth is actually a bit higher than the national average of 17.7 percent, but on par we're older than most areas. The median age in Canada is now 39.5; the median age on Manitoulin is 44.1.

Perhaps most striking, however, is the burgeoning number of people who are approaching retirement age. The census breaks its age stats into five-year brackets: 0-4 years of age, 5-9, and so on. On Manitoulin, the largest number to fall within any of these brackets is for the 55-59 category, with 1,040 people meeting this range.

Add to that group the number (nearly as high, at 940) for those aged 60-64, and you have 1,980 pre-retirees-15 percent of our population-who are presently warming up their golf swings.

The Manitoulin Living campaign, which targets both retirees and pre-retirement professional types who are looking for an escape from the urban rat race, might take some credit for the swell in this demographic, but project coordinator Patrick Kiley said it's difficult to gauge.

"I'm not sure whether this is a more accurate reflection of an aging group moving here, or that a great many of our young people move away to find opportunities elsewhere," he mused.

He noted that his own siblings, and most of his cousins, "are in southern Ontario, because they found a greater potential for growth and opportunity there." But he believes that "with some reasonable, sustainable development, we can reverse that trend."

Meanwhile, the baby-boomer retirement tide is fast approaching, Mr. Kiley noted, with the first wave of boomers poised to turn 65 in 2011. "We have to decide whether we want to be driving that bus or let it pass us by," he said.

While Manitoulin is aging, and will almost certainly have more seniors than children by the time the next census is completed (they occur every five years), the numbers aren't consistent across every community.

Tehkummah features a median age of 54 and boast 215 citizens (of 380) who are above the age of 50, leaving little wonder as to why the temporary closure of the community's seniors' hall created such a stir last year.

By contrast, the small First Nations community of Zhiibaahaasing has a median age of 19.5-half the national norm!-with the bulk of its population below the age of 20 and none above the age of 59. The Sheguiandah First Nation is nearly as youthful: its median age is 26, and its most populous age bracket (two times that of any other) is kids between 10 and 14.

In the Northeast Town, seniors outnumber children, with 580 citizens who are 65 and over compared to just 515 who are under 15. Perhaps most remarkable though, even given the existence of a long-term care facility in the town, is the number of people over 85: NEMI has 70 post-85ers, nearly as many as fall into the 20-24 range.

While the community portraits don't yield a separate category for those over 100, Cissie Sim (who turned 109 this month) will be pleased to learn that she's not alone on a national scale. Across Canada, the number of centenarians was way up, 22 percent over the last census, with 4,635 in all. Most (five of every six) were women.

Women also outnumber men in general, to no-one's great surprise. For every 100 women in Canada, there are 96 men.

Manitoulin follows this trend, although by a less pronounced ratio: of our 13,090 residents, there are just 60 more women than men (6,575 versus 6,515). Indeed, there are many Island communities where men are more numerous than women.

If you're looking for a husband, you could try Dawson, where guys top gals 335 to 280, or Killarney, which has 235 men to its 220 women.

If you're a guy looking for a date, you'd be worse off than in Gore Bay, which has 490 women compared to 430 men. If you're a Gore Bay guy between the ages of 35 and 39, and still striking out, you have no excuse: there are just 15 of you, and 25 of them.

The worst plan for a lonely bachelor would be to move to Alberta: yes, there's work, and many Islanders have flocked there for that reason. But it's the one province that happens to count more men than women.

On the general job front, the picture seems relatively rosy at the moment for those seeking employment, given that people are retiring nearly as quickly as new workers enter the scene, whereas in the 1960s, there were two new workers for every retiree. Employers, on the other hand, may find the pickings slim, and look for ways to keep near-retirement boomers on the payroll a bit longer to ease the transition.

Investigation into Manor death finds security 'non-compliant'

by Alicia McCutcheon

LITTLE CURRENT-Following a tragic end to a search for a missing resident of the Manitoulin Centennial Manor last Monday, it has been determined that the deceased, Albert Beaven, died from drowning.

Dr. Marlene Spruyt, coroner of the case, explained that while cause of death has been established, her investigation is not yet complete and has not yet ruled as to whether an inquest into the drowning death of Mr. Beaven will be issued.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) visited the Manor on July 17 and 18, performing their own investigation into the death of Mr. Beaven. Following that inspection, the home was found in non-compliance, relative to safety and security, explained David Jensen, head of communications for the ministry. Mr. Jensen said that despite earlier reports, it is not Jarlette Health Services that was found in non-compliance but the Manor itself.

The Manor had until yesterday (Tuesday) to come into compliance with the guidelines set out by the ministry. The ministry would not comment as to what safety issues were involved or the recommendations made.

After a phone call to Manor chair Les Fields, a press release was issued from the management of the Manor.

"The management of Manitoulin Centennial Manor is committed to ensuring the highest standards of care, compassion and professionalism for residents," the release states. "The recent incident at the facility was unfortunate, and our sympathies and those of all our staff go out to the family of Albert Beaven."

"Management is addressing the areas of non-compliance noted by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care," the release continues. "We address issues as they arise in our homes, and we will file a corrective plan with regard to this facility."

"We continually review our procedures to determine if they can be improved to ensure the highest level of respect, dignity, care and safety of residents," the release further indicates. "We treat such concerns as opportunities to improve the quality of care we provide to residents."

"By the 17th, the Manor had already instituted some safety interventions," Mr. Jensen said. "They will be closely monitored for the time being, including weekly visits."

The Ontario Provincial Police is nearing the end of its investigation too, said communications officer Constable Al Boyd, but noted that it will be "a while" before a final report will be made. The last week had been spent interviewing staff and residents, he said.

"The investigation is just about completed and I don't see any wrongdoing on the staff's part," he commented.

According to sources, Mr. Beaven may have left the Manor on Sunday evening when another resident was either coming in or leaving the facility.

Before the days of coded doors, the Manor would lock its doors at a prescribed time every night, with the key guarded by the nurse on duty. The nurse, or person in charge of the key, would have to be asked to go outside after that time.

MPP Shelley Martel, opposition critic for health and long-term care, told the Expositor she was pleased to see two investigations happening at the Manor.

"I hope that if either of those investigations discover a need for change that the Manor implements that change," she said. "This is the second tragic death in less than a year. I hope there are positive changes that can be useful and helpful at the home."

"It remains the case that the McGuinty government has not kept its promise for increased funding per resident," Ms. Martel continued, noting the $6,000 promise and $2,300 actuality.

The MPP said that if the $6,000 figure would be met, that every home in the province would have more staff.

"That would certainly improve things," said Ms. Martel.

Stanley Cup coming to Rockville on August 18

by Jim Moodie

ROCKVILLE-Saturday, August 18 is shaping up to be a pretty fantastic Hockey Day on Manitoulin.

On that date, Anaheim Ducks coach Randy Carlyle, who has cottaged in the Rockville area for nearly three decades, will be bringing the coveted Stanley Cup to the community's quaint little hall, normally a venue for turkey suppers, strawberry socials and Tuesday night euchres.

It's a date you might just want to circle on your calendar, as anyone is welcome to come on over and check out Lord Stanley's mug on this rather rare occasion.

We're pretty sure that the hallowed chalice has never, in its 115-year history, paid a visit to the Island, let alone the blink-and-you'll-miss-it burgh of Rockville. But it is now.

"We're bringing it to Manitoulin," confirmed Carlyle last week, when reached at his Island getaway, which he's enjoyed with wife Corey and three children for many years. "We're going to have it at the Rockville Hall from 11 am to 3:30 pm."

The coach of the victorious Ducks has a mere two days to have Canada's greatest sporting prize to himself, but has opted to make one of those an opportunity for Islanders to share in the glory.

"We're summer residents, and have formed some real strong friendships,"_Carlyle explained, adding that each child was born in a different city, so Manitoulin is "the one consistent thing."

 The previous day, Carlyle will be taking the cup to the arena in his hometown of Azilda.

The Ducks' assistant coach, Dave Farrish, also happens to have a cottage in the Rockville area, but has decided to tote to the cup down to his home arena in Lucknow, near Wingham, when his turn comes to show off the trophy.

Carlyle had an impressive NHL career, playing 17 seasons and over 1,000 games with the Leafs, Penguins and Jets, and earning the Norris Trophy for top defenceman in 1981. But he "never won the cup as a player," he noted.

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the Ducks' victory this spring, the coach, just in his second year of helming an NHL bench, said it felt "surreal" to be finally hoisting the storied trophy. Reached last week, Carlyle said it's "finally beginning to sink in, but it's been about a month."

The coach, known as a fiery, hard-nosed rearguard in his day, credits his players with having the stamina and tenacity to prevail in the NHL contest, often said to be the hardest title in major sports to win. "It's an accomplishment I'm proud of," he said. "We worked extremely hard, and the players are to be commended."

"It wasn't smoke and mirrors," added Carlyle of the Ducks' victory. "We earned it."

The Ducks, although considered by many to be the toughest and deepest team in the field this past year, surprised nearly everyone with the level of competitiveness and team play that was brought to the ice each time they suited up during the playoff run.

Veteran players seemed to find a new gear, while the rookies on the squad showed unusual poise. "We had a good mix," said the coach. "The young guys made huge contributions, but a lot of the older guys provided the leadership and grit."

The status of a couple of those grizzled leaders is now somewhat in question, as both Scott Niedermayer, the team's hirsute, smooth-skating captain, and Teemu Selanne, its flashy and classy star, are contemplating retirement.

But Carlyle and GM Brian Burke have made some key moves in the off-season to shore up the ranks should these key players hang 'em up, acquiring both power forward Todd Bertuzzi and mobile defenceman Mathieu Schneider from the Detroit Red Wings.

The pressure will be on to repeat as champs, Carlyle concedes, and that will certainly be the goal of the organization, but as talented as the team remains on paper, "everything starts at zero again," he noted. "And with the parity of the league, and teams being ready for us now, there's no secret that it will be tougher."

In the meantime, Islanders who want to congratulate the coach on his win and enjoy a rare chance to see the cup are invited to make their way on over to the Rockville Hall on August 18. The joint, we expect, will be rocking.

"Everyone is welcome and can bring their own camera,"_said the coach, "but should know there could be a time constraint."

Those who come to visit the cup are asked to exercise respect and limit their time at the hall so that the event flows smoothly.

EDITORIAL

Politics should not stall four-laning of Hwy. 69

It was good to read the press release from the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines that was published in last week's paper that gave an update on the four-laning process of Highway 11 to North Bay and Highway 69 north the Sudbury.

Highway 69 is to be completed by 2017; Highway 11, much earlier.

What is obvious to anyone using Highway 69 even occasionally is the rapid pace of construction of several sections of the new four-lane highway in the area between Sudbury and Estaire. That will be a fine link to the four-laned section that presently ends on the hill above Richard Lake and the Rainbow Country Travel Association's tourist information booth. It also promises to eliminate at least one of the railway level crossings that are an ongoing hazard to highway traffic in the fairly near future.

It's great to see this work going on and when the four-laning of Highway 69 is completed, as promised, in a decade's time, this should prove a boon to Manitoulin's tourism economy as it will shorten the drive north for people from central Ontario.

What is correspondingly disturbing, on the other hand, is the slow pace at which the final leg of the four-laning of Highway 69 is proceeding south of Parry Sound.

Between Waubaushene and Parry Sound, the work is completed except for an eight-kilometre stretch that spans the length of the Gibson Wahta First Nation.

Granted, this stretch was begun much later than were improvements south of the reserve to Waubaushene and north to Parry Sound. This was because negotiations with the First Nation for the use of a portion of its land required for the four-laning process were quite lengthy.

But these things were ironed out and the work was proceeding well last year.

This year, however, it appears that there is only a handful of workers and a correspondingly small assortment of heavy equipment assigned to this eight-kilometre aspect of the project which, in effect, acts as a bottleneck when both north and southbound traffic, travelling on four lanes, is forced to merge into two lanes to pass through the area under construction.

Effectively, especially on a busy weekend (most notably on a holiday weekend), cars are backed up both north and south of the construction zone as they trickle through the eight-kilometre gauntlet.

This is an election year in Ontario, and there has been more than one observation that the final leg of the construction zone south of Parry Sound where construction has been slowed to a crawl is in an opposition riding (Norm Miller, PC, Parry Sound-Muskoka) while the area to the north where all of the activity is clearly taking place is in a government riding (Hon. Rick Bartolucci, Liberal, Sudbury).

We sincerely hope that the Liberal government in power is not playing this old game, which, if it is, is not so much at the expense of the member of the party of opposition but rather at the expense of the travelling public.

A couple of years ago, a provincial sign in the Wahta First Nation region promised that this final leg of the south-of-Parry Sound project would be completed this year.

Very clearly, it won't be, not unless a great deal more money is lavished on this final eight-kilometre bottleneck in a hurry.

We certainly hope this isn't a case of playing politics. At various times, all three of Ontario's major parties, when they have been in power, have pledged to four-lane Highways 69 and 11 to the north, so it's not as though one particular party can claim moral authority on this issue.

At the end of the day, it's the people using this highway, whether for recreational or commercial purposes, who are affected by a continued bottleneck which is due to a slower-than-reasonable construction schedule.

It's great that the stretch of Highway 69 from Parry Sound to Sudbury is actively being four-laned. It's a cause for which Mr. Bartolucci eloquently and successfully advocated.

But, please, let's finish the first part of the project, and finish it quickly.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reserve dweller disgusted by hunting at this time of year

Please respect the 'circle of life'

To the Expositor:

I am writing to you to express my disgust in our "traditional leaders." Two weeks ago we noticed a doe and her fawn out in our field; then there were two fawns, and now there are four. The doe is adopting these orphan fawns after their mothers have been shot.

Every night we hear the gun shots, all night long. This in NOT the time of season to hunt. The does are caring for their young!

There is such a lack of concern and respect for the wildlife here on the reservation. There is such a lack of education for animals and their care. We are so sick and tired of fearing that our house is going to get hit soon by a stray bullet.

We wish the people of Wikwemikong would not hunt this time of year. Please respect the 'circle of life.'

Yvette Trudeau

Wikwemikong

Civil servants need skill in dealing with ethical dilemmas

Resolutions to human rights issues do not come quickly

To the Expositor:

As we venture into Americanization, simple things such as human rights will continue to be overlooked. It is reality.

In my experience the United Nations Human Rights Committee will not become involved until other avenues of resolution have been exhausted. Which leaves the courts and other various tribunals to be initially utilized.

The funny thing about the July 4, 2007 letters to the editor concerning religious schooling was the irony between the letters-one proclaiming insufficient funding while the other depicting the higher level of education offered by a religious education.

Could there be a management problem within public schools? We could spend a few million dollars to investigate this.

Evasion is prudent until the courts decide, isn't it?

Perhaps now the bottom side is more appealing.

The major problem for implementing an effective strategy remains that no strategy will be of much value if individual civil servants lack the technical competence to recognize an ethics problem for what it is, or if they do not know what standards their organization expects of them, or worst of all, if they consider it to be not in their interests, personally or professionally.

One issue with regard to the letter, "Canada found in violation of human rights repeatedly," is that the MPP is provincial. Finally, if there is a lack of public interest...well?

Nelson Runnalls

North Bay

Stalling on treatment for special needs children deemed outrageous

A scandalous amount of money spent in fighting parents

To the Expositor:

During the 2003 election campaign, Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty said a Liberal government would extend treatment for autistic children over age six. It was not until mid-2005-after the courts ruled that the province was violating the children's constitutional rights by denying them treatment-that he made good on that promise. The province successfully appealed that ruling last year.

The Ontario Government spent $2.4 million fighting parents who wanted their children to receive treatment beyond the age of six years.

I wish to take my hat off to Shelley Martel, who had this outrageous number revealed to the Ontario taxpayers. "That's a scandalous amount of money for a government to have spent breaking a promise to some of the most vulnerable kids in Ontario," Ms. Martel said in an interview. She said that money could have been spent on a year's worth of treatment for about 50 children.

As your elected representative in matters of education, I want to assure you that I did ask for help from Mike Brown to lobby on our parents' behalf to correct this wrong to parents of autistic and special needs children. I received the same support I have on other educational matters: nothing. Let this serve as my report card for the government of Mike Brown. 

Nothing is more frustrating than to see the parents whose love and care is poured out to their special needs children being left to feel they are alone in their battles for their children.

This government has again dipped into the cookie jar and given themselves a 25 percent raise. They then dissolved parliament several weeks early and headed for the polluted beaches in gas-guzzling cars.

Can I make a difference? You bet, with your help. Sit down and write a letter to your MPP telling him where your vote is headed this term. I am constantly asked, "why don't you give up Larry, you are only one insignificant person?" I guess, as a youngster, I just spent too much time in a big tent with a single mosquito. He made a significant difference to me, and so will I, with your help.

Larry Killens

Rainbow School Board trustee

Mindemoya

Neilly Little

Manitoulin Island Country Club,

Gore Bay

I'm your neighbour

For Neilly Little, the opportunity to work at the Manitoulin Island Country Club (MICC) in Gore Bay not only allows her to work with the public, but also provides her with great experience for her career choice.

"I really enjoy dealing with the public, and my job at the golf course provides me with good experience in dealing with the public, which is good, because I want to be a police officer in the future," said Ms. Little. "Working here, you learn to deal with different situations and ways to deal with the public."

Ms. Little, originally of Gore Bay, now works part-time in the clubhouse, although she worked at MICC a few years ago, before to moving to the Grand Cayman Islands where she was employed at a law firm, as well as at a resort.

"I really like the fact we have so many different duties working at the golf course," said Ms. Little. "And Jane (Pummell, clubhouse manager) is one of the best people I have ever worked for, and all my fellow employees work well together."

Ms. Little's position at MICC is not the only employment she has. "I'm also fortunate to work with the UCCM (United Chiefs and Councils of Manitoulin) Police as a prison guard, which again provides good experience towards my career as a police officer."

For the past six years, she has worked for Pam and Ken Blodgett at Canadian Yacht Charters in Gore Bay for the past six years. While she started out full-time, she is now "helping out now whenever I can. Pam and Ken are great to work for."

As one of the competitors at the MICC annual Men's Open Tournament said last Sunday in describing Ms. Little, "her outgoing personality bowls me over."

Frequenting local businesses like the MICC provides lasting employment for people like Ms. Little.