Manor loses 26 hours per day of nursing care time

Result of new Case Mix Index

by Tom Sasvari

LITTLE CURRENT-With a reduction in funding from the province, the Manitoulin Centennial Manor will be providing 26 less hours of care to residents of the facility due to layoffs of staff and reductions of caregiver hours.

"We are looking at a number of layoffs of staff, because the Case Mix Index (CMI) which determines funding for the Manor has been reduced," stated Anna Sweet, representative of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) for Local 2165. She represents all full- and part-time personal support workers (PSWs), registered practical nurses (RPNs), health-care aids and custodial and kitchen staff at the Manor. "I represent all workers at the Manor, with the exclusion of RNs (Registered Nurses) and management," she said.

"The reduction in the CMI means the amount of funding being provided for the Manor is less," said Ms. Sweet. "The reduction in CMI is as a result of a number of residents having passed on at the Manor, and those that are replacing them being more independent individuals and needing less daily care than those that aren't as independent."

She explained that "the CMI is a formula used by the  Ministry of Health to provide funding to facilities like the Manor. It follows a classification, and as more residents of the Manor are those that are more independent, the lower the point value, the lower the CMI and the lower the amount of funding that is provided."

"We were looking at the nursing envelope where the shortfall came from," said Ms. Sweet. "The union and employees are working together at lessening the impact on staff and residents at the Manor. We are looking at a reduction in hours, so employees may not necessarily be laid off, but we are looking at a total reduction of 26 hours-per-day less for residents." This works out to be a reduction of 20 hours for Personal Support Workers, and six hours for RPNs.

The Expositor obtained a letter sent by Ginette Lapointe, administrator of the Manor, dated March 9, to all full-time and part-time PSWs and RPNs, as well as health-care aids, custodial and kitchen staff. The letter, a notice of layoff, states, "as you may be aware, the Manitoulin Centennial Manor has been forced to reduce nursing hours due to ongoing financial constraints."

"The purpose of this letter is to inform you that your full-time or part-time position may subject you to a layoff," wrote Ms. Lapointe. "This reduction in hours will require reposting of a master schedule and a subsequent bidding for each line."

"According to Article 15 of the collective agreement, an employee who is subject to layoff shall have the right to either: 1) accept the layoff and be placed on the recall list for 24 months, or 2) displace another employee who has lesser bargaining unit seniority in an identical or lower paying classification if the employee originally subject to layoff can perform the duties without training other than orientation," continued Ms. Lapointe. "An employee so displaced can perform the duties without training other than orientation. Such employee so displaced shall be laid off, subject to his/her rights under this section. The right to bump shall not include the right to bump up. An employee who chooses to exercise the rights to displace another employee shall advise the employer of his/her intention to do so, and the position claimed within seven days after receiving notice of layoff."

Ms. Lapointe goes on to indicate that the employees' options are "to accept the layoff; or keep your position with the reduction of hours; or bump into a less senior position with equal or less hours."

"This letter constitutes notice of reduction in hours of work pursuant to the Employment Standards Act and to the collective agreement," continued Ms. Lapointe.

"We have met with CUPE Local 2165 for the implementation of this staffing reduction," the administrator added.

The Expositor contacted Leslie Fields, chair of the Manor Board, but she declined to comment on the current situation at the Manor at this time. Ms. Lapointe was also contacted, but said wouldn't comment until after meeting with Ms. Fields to sit down and review the matter. After that time, she indicated that a statement from the board and administration of the Manor would be made available.

"We are still working out the logistics on all of these changes," said Ms. Sweet. "Both parties are working together to have less impact on members.

Wiky hosts youth forum Ontario-wide conference held over March break

by Lindsay Kelly

WIKWEMIKONG-Culture, tradition and language formed the cornerstone of a province-wide First Nations youth gathering over the weekend, during which dozens of First Nations youth from across Ontario converged in Wikwemikong to hear the teachings of their elders.

From March 16-18, youth travelled from across the province to take part in the fourth annual symposium of the Ontario First Nations Young Peoples Council, a division of the Chiefs of Ontario.

A host of First Nations were represented at the conference, including the local communities of Sheguiandah and Sheshegwaning, southern communities like Six Nations and New Credit, along with First Nations from the farther-flung regions of the province, such as Grassy Narrows and Rainy River.

Each year, a different community hosts the conference, but this year Wikwemikong was chosen because the people there still retain much of their language, Wiky Chief Bobby Corbiere explained, adding that it fit with the theme of this year's conference, "On Culture, Tradition and Language."

"We're home to the Three Fires Confederacy," Chief Corbiere noted. "Our language is very much intact with the elders, people my age and the people of the next generation under me, but after that, it's different."

To help the youngest generations become immersed in their culture and traditions, Ojibwe is spoken at the band office and within the education system, and it is also being taught in the community's elementary schools for more than just a 40-minute daily class, Chief Corbiere noted.

He believes First Nations youth were having a difficult time retaining knowledge of the language because they were being taught to write it. But Ojibwe was traditionally an oral language, and having to write the long words caused children to lose focus.

"Anybody who is fluent in the language today didn't concentrate on spelling," he said. "They focussed on actually using it in and outside of the community."

The community initiative serves as a positive example for other First Nations that are trying to recapture their language, culture and traditions. And through a series of workshops over the three-day period, youth were presented with a range of topics, from traditional child-rearing practices to storytelling, and drum teachings to traditional governance.

For Nick Mainville, a member of the Ontario First Nations Youth Council from Couchiching First Nation, the most important thing the youth could do is to "open your minds and your spirits" to what the facilitators could teach them.

An important issue now facing not just Canada, but the world, is climate change, he pointed out, noting that the changes are evident in the reports of polar bears drowning in the North, the weather patterns changing, and the UN's warning that global warning is happening because of human activities.

After speaking with Ontario's Minister of the Environment, Mr. Mainville said he was assured that the ministry is committed to working with youth on strategies to curb the changes to the environment, and he urged the youth at the conference to maintain their commitment to making change as well.

"We as First Peoples know what it comes down to: values," he said. "We have to accept our share of the responsibility."

By developing sustainable environmental practices, the youth can leave a better future for their children and grandchildren, he added.

"I want to remind the youth that, as you take part in this weekend, keep an open mind and an open heart when listening to the elders," he said. "We definitely have a lot to gain and a lot to learn about our culture, traditions, and especially our language. So please keep an open heart and an open mind."

Stan Wesley, a dynamic youth empowerment facilitator originally from Moose Cree First Nation but currently living in Brantford, encouraged the youth not to think of themselves as keys to shaping their communities' futures, but to think of themselves as active participants in what is happening in their communities today.

"We all have a part in this," he said, posing the question, "How do we adapt all this stuff to make our community better?"

He urged the youth to "party all weekend," but without alcohol and drugs. Instead, he suggested they get to know one another, listen to the facilitators, take in the knowledge offered them and "do something now."

For Bob Stevenson, taking action means restoring knowledge of the land and learning traditional survival and life skills. A Cree from Fort Fitzgerald who has lived on the Akwasasne First Nation for more than 20 years, Mr. Stevenson was raised in the bush by his grandmother, while his other siblings were sent to residential school, which he considers a very positive turn of fortune.

In the bush, his grandmother taught him how to honour the land and its creatures. "You have to have respect, total respect," he said. "If you don’t use an animal, bird, fish, or plant, leave it alone."

He also believes that, in looking to traditional use of the land, it is important to highlight the role that First Peoples played in introducing to the world many of the ideas and items in use today.

For example, pillows, canoes, hammocks, sleeping bags, cabins and the game of lacrosse were all ideas put forward by First Nations peoples, and many of the non-Native settlers survived their first months in their new homes because of the assistance provided by Native friends.

"It's about knowing the old ideas and yet applying the new ones," Mr. Stevenson said, while showcasing items he had brought from his own collection of traditional and more modern items. "We have to emphasize the Native contributions and give them the proper credit."

There are also basic necessities needed to survive in the bush, he noted. If you can provide for yourself shelter, water, food, and fire-in that order, he emphasized-then you can survive indefinitely in the bush, and you will have recaptured some of the key traditional First Nations teachings.

"If you ever get lost in the woods, always think of yourself as an animal," he advised. "You're strong; you know what to do."

Among the essentials that Mr. Stevenson advises bringing into the woods are: flint, a walking stick, and, of course, toilet paper. "It's the most important thing you can take into the woods for survival," Mr. Stevenson joked.

The three-day conference was to wrap up on Sunday afternoon, with a closing ceremony and lunch to go as youth returned to their home communities.

Seniors seeking investors for Mindemoya apartments

by Alicia McCutcheon

MINDEMOYA-The Mindemoya Golden Age Club is having concerns over the housing situation in their community and believe they have a solution.

Last week, a project committee was established to oversee the senior group's quest for the construction of a two-bedroom apartment complex in Mindemoya with Doug Lanktree appointed as interim chair.

"Currently, the senior's apartments are one bedroom," says Mr. Lanktree. "We would like to have a two-bedroom facility."

"We would like to see a private investor build a 20-unit place, but so far, no-one is interested."

He says the group's next step is to acquire land and money and build it themselves.

"We're looking at a $2 million project," he adds.

Mr. Lanktree says the cost of rent at the proposed complex would be in the range of $1,000 a month-a price, he says, that most seniors who have their own home could most likely afford as their costs of water, taxes and general costs of living would be around the same amount.

Richard Stephens, reeve of Central Manitoulin, says that council supports the endeavour fully.

The municipality recently used its contacts to arrange a tour and meeting of Coniston's newest seniors' complex and its builder.

The committee's next steps are narrowing down a list of prospective building sites, approaching local contractors to find interested parties, and sources of funding.

The seniors' committee is going to submit an application to the Central Manitoulin Housing Corporation for $2,000 to prepare a feasibility study and business plan.

The Central Manitoulin Lion's Club has sent a letter of sanction to the seniors' group and hope to receive one from the Chamber of Commerce soon as well, Mr. Lanktree says.

"If there's anyone interested who has a chunk of land they'd like to give away, we'd be happy to hear from them.

Norisle's Friends offered free tech services

by Jim Moodie

MANITOULIN-Should the Friends of the Norisle decide to pursue their dream of re-launching Manitowaning's retired ferry as a cruise boat, members of the Ontario Steam Heritage Museum in southern Ontario will be literally on board-wrenches, pliers and electrical manuals in hand-to provide pro bono technical help.

Last week, following an on-site inspection of the ship, steam museum president Wayne Fischer wrote the committee to thank members for the opportunity to visit the vessel and to pledge his organization's support of the project, citing 10 concrete ways in which it would be prepared to pitch in, free of charge, to upgrade the craft for sailing.

"We found the vessel to be of sound construction and an ideal candidate for restoration and preservation," Mr. Fischer wrote, adding that "the location of the town of Manitowaning on the North Channel provides endless opportunities for the Norisle to operate as a cruising steam-powered tour boat."

The organization is not only offering moral support for the local campaign, however, but also practical hands-on help. In his missive, Mr. Fischer spells out 10 specific services the group is willing to perform, at no cost, to help restore the craft. These range from a variety of electrical upgrades (some of which would be done by Mr. Fischer's own company, Engineered Electrical Controls) to overseeing the disassembly and reassembly of the main steam propulsion engine.

As well, the steam association is prepared to provide certified operators, again free of charge, to "raise steam and test out the propulsion system and service generators," as well as to "assist in training an engine crew."

Friends of the Norisle chairman Dave Ham said he has been overwhelmed by the response that his fledgling advocacy group has received so far, both from sympathetic citizens on Manitoulin and steam aficionados from afar.

"I can't believe how fast this is moving," he commented. The 'Save the Norisle' group is "growing steadily" in numbers, he said, with "four or five new people signing up each day." (See the membership form included on Page 14 of this paper.)

And the issue has resonated well beyond Manitoulin's shores. A steam buff from New Hampshire, Steve Lindsey, contacted the Expositor last week to share his concerns about the Norisle (see his letter to the editor on Page 4). "I was with the Friends of the Nobska, which was the last tall-stack Eastern Seaboard coastal steamer, but we weren't able to save her," he lamented in a phone conversation. "You have a treasure there in the Norisle and I hope it can be preserved."

Mr. Lindsey noted that he's circulated Expositor stories about the Norisle among the online boating fraternity. A copy of last week's front-page story, for instance, has been posted at www.boatnerd.com, a site dedicated to shipping issues and heritage on the Great Lakes.

Meanwhile, a bit closer to home, Mr. Ham was interviewed this past Friday by a radio station from Owen Sound, the Norisle's original home port, and he feels "there are a lot of Norisle followers down there who will be interested in joining."

Building up a bigger membership will be critical to any plan to revive the boat, but just as essential, if not more, is the type of in-kind contribution of manpower and expertise that has been offered by the steam association.

"The bottom line is that these people are being extremely generous," said Mr. Ham, "and on behalf of the whole Friends of the Norisle committee I want to thank them very much for their incredible offering."

While it's a bit premature to be hauling out a bottle of bubbly for a re-launch of the boat, Mr. Ham said he is excited by the possibilities, and believes they are well worth exploring. If the resources could be acquired to fix the vessel up for use as a tour boat, he believes "it could become quite an attraction for all of the North Channel, and I could see Little Current being one of the largest benefactors of this-it would look quite unique pulling into harbour at the post office there."

The Friends of the Norisle chair envisions day cruises that might pick up passengers in Little Current for a tour through Killarney and back to Manitowaning, or multi-day trips that could travel the length of the channel to the Soo and back.

Short tours of the North Channel are currently provided by operators with small vessels, but "there's nothing where you can go out and have a glass of wine and dinner and make it a real experience," noted Mr. Ham. "I think it's something that's long overdue."

There are challenges to realizing such a dream, of course. If the boat were to be used for overnight journeys, parts of the vessel that currently consist of wood, like the upper deck, would have to be replaced with nonflammable material to comply with fire regulations. And insuring the vessel could be quite costly, although Mr. Ham said he's confident that there "are companies that will cover risks like that. The premium would be quite substantial, though," he concedes, "so it would have to be considered in any business plan."

Surprisingly enough, the state of the engine and hull are probably the least of the committee's concerns, even though the ship hasn't sailed in over 30 years. "Steam engines are unlike internal reciprocating engines in that they turn so slow, so there's very little wear," Mr. Ham pointed out. "So the only parts you'd have to replace would probably be gaskets here and there."

Firing up the boilers again might require a new fuel source, such as oil, although Mr. Ham said that the advice of John Coulter, a marine engineer who was part of the recent inspection of the boat, as well as the mastermind behind the successful restoration of the Seguin ferry in Muskoka, "is to fire it again with coal."

That would seem to fly in the face of current environmental concerns and regulations, but Mr. Ham pointed out that the Seguin is still fuelled by coal-hand-stoked, no less, just as in the days of yore-as are, still, many of the province's power generating stations. "The Norisle's burners are designed for coal and it would be 30 percent cheaper than liquid oil, so we're told our first thought should be given to that," said Mr. Ham.

As for the old boat's seaworthiness, Mr. Ham is confident that the hull is solid enough that the Norisle could bob through the waves again with few structural amendments being required.

The boat wasn't particularly fast in its hey day, but neither was it a total tortoise (or is that, porpoise). "She's designed to go 12 knots (or 12 nautical miles per hour) at maximum speed, and 10 knots at cruising speed, which is pretty reasonable when it weighs 2,000 tons," he said.

Compared to the Chi-Cheemaun ferry presently in service between Manitoulin and Tobermory, which travels at 16 knots, the Norisle, while a bit slower, rides deeper in the water and is more stable for its size, Mr. Ham said. And since it was designed to withstand the swells of Lake Huron, he feels it could surely handle the chop of the North Channel.

Mr. Lindsey, the steam fan from the States, said that the experience of riding aboard a retro boat is much more gratifying than the contemporary alternative. "With a diesel boat, you have more smell and noise," he said. "A steamboat glides through the water, and it's a really elegant Victorian experience. It respects the environment more, and you're not just getting from point A to point B, but seeing things and smelling things in a different way."

He said that some retrofitted steamships in the US have utilized recycled automobile oil instead of coal to fire their boilers, although he noted that "there's a new system that doesn't produce emissions."

If the Norisle is to sail again, Mr. Ham said that "the whole ship is going to have to go through a Transport Canada Safety Inspection." Among anticipated changes that would be required are substantial electrical upgrades, including re-wiring throughout and a new main switchboard. As well, the existing steam-driven generators would have to be overhauled, according to Mr. Fischer.

In his letter to the Norisle committee pledging help for such undertakings, should the day come when a full restoration is deemed doable, the steam museum prez further suggested a number of measures that should be implemented ASAP.

Of these, one has already been tackled by the committee. On Friday, Mr. Ham and a few helpers were on board to place tarps over the smokestack and ventilators, in order to, as Mr. Fischer phrases it, "prevent the egress of rain water."

Other measures that should, in Mr. Fischer's estimate, be carried out include: securing the boat from vandalism and damage; pumping water from the ship, including an accumulation at the bottom of the boiler; installing an alarm that would be triggered by any new influx of water; involving the public through open houses and the planning of volunteer appreciation events; and undertaking a cleanup of the on-board detritus such as old bed springs. As well, Mr. Fischer encourages the committee to travel to Gravenhurst for a tour of the Seguin to see how that community has made their old steamboat a success story.

In his letter, Mr. Fischer further provides detailed information about the particular type of steam engine that is housed in the Norisle and the options, none of which he deems advantageous, for replacing it. To supplant the 900 hp triple-expansion steam engine (apparently the last of its kind in existence on the Great Lakes) with a modern equivalent, a 2,500 hp diesel motor would be required, he notes. But whereas "a marine diesel engine only has a life of approximately 30 years with a $10,000 refit every five years," a steam engine "has an infinite life and any defective parts could be re-manufactured in any good machine shop," he writes.

As a testament to the longevity of this type of steam engine, Mr. Fischer points out that, while touring the ship the weekend before last, he observed that "spare piston rings that were supplied with the vessel when it was built in 1946 are still down in the engine room, still untouched, even though the ship had a 26-year operating life."

In conclusion, Mr. Fischer reminds the Friends of the Norisle that, given the boat's original use as a car ferry, "you have great flexibility as to the design of the ship and its final intended operation." Given the options at the group's disposal, "the restoration of this vessel can be done in stages, allowing you to build on earlier successes," he counsels.

Much planning and work remains to be done before the Norisle can even be considered safe from the nautical boneyard, let alone "raise steam" and set forth again on local waters. But Mr. Fischer, for one, believes the latter scenario could realistically occur within the next half decade.

"Depending on your enthusiasm and ability to attract and organize volunteers, and obtain sponsors and/or grant monies, there is no reason," he opines in his letter, "why the Norisle could not be up and steaming on its first cruise within four to five years."

EDITORIAL

Municipalities should keep Manor in public domain

We would like to preface this commentary with an assumption that Manitoulin's municipalities wish to keep the Manitoulin Centennial Manor in the public demain.

We understand this to be, in large part, the case.

And if these municipalities wish to maintain ownership of the Manor, it stands to reason that they will also want to do everything in their power to have a steady, reliable workforce committed to their many and varied tasks and to the residents whose care is in their hands.

We take all of these things as givens. Common sense would dictate this should be the case.

Why, then, on March 9, were all of the health-care aids (HCAs), personal support workers (PSWs), and registered practical nurses (RPNs) sent a letter telling them that they might be laid off? The letter outlined bumping procedures as stated in the collective agreement, and said that employees might have their hours reduced. In addition, the letter said employees had seven days to let management know whether they wished to bump in the event of a layoff or to accept the layoff with 24 months recall rights. The letter stated that the Manor's administrator was available to discuss the letter-all employees had to do was call her.

But if the March 9 letter is to be taken as formal notice of the layoff (which it might or might not be-the letter is that unclear) and the seven days referred to were in fact last week, then if any of the employees wanted to discuss the contents of this confusing letter, or if residents' families might wonder what impact staff reductions would have on their loved ones-well, that was just too bad, because the author of the letter (who had, you may recall, asked people to contact her for any further information) was not in her office last week.

Remember: that's the week people had to make critical decisions about how, or if, their careers would proceed at the Manor.

Not only was the Manor's administrator not around last week, but neither was the chair (and spokesperson) of the Manor board.

So much for the promise of communication.

Doing this sort of thing by a letter is no doubt by the book. But someone certainly should have been around to talk to the individuals who wanted to discuss the implications of not only the loss of some of their hours (if this was to be the choice they make), but about how things will be at the Manor with 26 fewer hours of resident contact, per day, as of June.

That 26 hours is, naturally, spread among the entire basic health-care delivery team: HCAs, RPNs, PSWs.

But 26 fewer hours of resident contact each day means a heck of a lot more work is going to have to be done by the same number of people working fewer hours.

Granted, this has all come about because, in its most recent (December) audit of the particular mix of residents then at the Manitoulin Centennial Manor, the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care has changed the Manor's "Case Mix Index" (CMI) for 2007 - 2008.

They've determined that, as of last December, the Manor's particular mix of residents required fewer hours of nursing care, and the Manor will be funded accordingly until the next Case Mix Index audit in December of this year.

Long-time staff members at the Manor say that while the CMI has gone up and down over the years, the current change-that lops 26 hours per day from patient care with the attendant layoffs and/or staff cutbacks-is the most dramatic in memory.

We understand that changes have to be made to live within the budget provided by the ministry responsible.

But, simply because the changes are as radical as they are, it would have made much better sense, for both concerned staff and residents' family members, had someone been in the institution last week to answer legitimate questions.

Lapses like this take their toll on staff morale and community confidence and, returning to this commentary's original assumption, (that Manitoulin's municipalities wish to keep the Manitoulin Centennial Manor in the public domain), these municipalities who administer the Manor as a public trust on behalf of all municipal residents must be concerned about how they are being represented.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Presence of a trail can be a boon to community

Please open your hearts and minds

To the Expositor:

I have never written a letter to the editor before but after reading the controversy on the hiking trail I just had to send a positive comment. We live in a small town in BC-Oliver, the wine capital-and we have a bike and hike trail going right past our door and we love it. This trail is paved in part, and is 18 kilometres long and growing. Many residents and tourists alike use the trail, walking their dog, and heaven forbid and getting some much needed exercise. We have had no problem with litter. We are fortunate that part of the trail is on government land and is maintained by the government. 

People use doggy doo bags for the most part and pets are restricted to be on a leash within the town boundaries. Yes, in the summer we have a bit of undesirable camping in some areas, but they are just young people needing some place to put their head down for a night's rest.

We visited a small town in Australia and enjoyed their hike and bike trail as well-always clean and welcome. They also provided bags for litter and containers to put them in, decorated with painted flowers even. How welcome.

Please open your hearts and minds for the enjoyment of all; you might even enjoy the trail yourself-try it.

Jean Kruger

a Haweater now living in

Oliver, BC

Don't let the Norisle meet sad fate of US steamer

Give me a reason to visit Manitoulin

To the Expositor:

So they might take the venerable S.S. Norisle out and open her seacocks to create an artificial reef. Or worse yet, let a Purvis Marine tug tow her to the ship breakers at the Soo where so many other proud steamers have met their end, in the blast furnaces of the Algoma Steel Mill.

There is only one reason for me to visit Manitoulin: to see the good ship Norisle. I had always wanted to walk her decks. The Norisle is the only authentic and intact Canadian Great Lakes passenger steamer left. Her Owen Sound Transportation Company running mate the Norgoma, at the Soo, has been dieselized. The Normac has been cut down into a floating bar at Port Dalhousie. The S.S. Keewatin will probably never return to Canadian waters.

I implore you, do not let your ship die. As a trustee of the New England Steamship Foundation, we saw our beloved S.S. Nobska broken up in Boston last summer by the National Parks Service, of all outfits. The Nobska proudly served Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The last passenger steamship in the US eastern seaboard is no more. We failed. I cannot begin to tell you the sadness this left in our hearts.

I am hoping you are different. For me, Canada is the place that gave us Gordon Lightfoot and the late Stan Rogers. I want to believe you have a greater interest in preserving your proud maritime heritage. Give me, and others like me, a reason to visit Manitoulin. Save the Norisle.

Steve W. Lindsey

Keene, New Hampshire

Creemore resident clarifies trail issue, cites happy experience

Sorry, Lori, I say 'yes' to the trails

To the Expositor:

I read your article on the hiking trail issue ("Keep to the trail," March 14) with great interest for two reasons: I miss having Lori Millsap as a neighbour here in Creemore; but while I respect her opinion, I must also point out that I hike the Bruce Trail almost every weekend and never see signs of misuse.

I think perhaps Lori has confused the Bruce Trail Association with the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC). The trail does follow a lot of properties that are subject to NEC regulations, but I don't think there is any tie between the two.

My husband and I will also be moving from Creemore to the Island this summer. It would be wonderful to have trails to hike, and we'd happily volunteer to help maintain them. I might also add that the groups from Toronto that hike our Creemore trails often stay at the local bed and breakfasts, eat at the restaurants and shop before leaving.

Sorry Lori, but my vote would be "yes" to the trails.

Sue Martin Rumble

Creemore, Ont.