cynthia dow

Quebec launches survey on time change

Cynthia Dow, LJI Journalist

CASCAPEDIA-SAINT-JULES – On October 22, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette announced that a public consultation will take place until December 1 on whether or not Quebecers wish to change the time in the spring and fall. 

It has been the custom for many decades to change from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the spring and then to revert to EST in the fall. There has been growing controversy about the time change in recent years. 

Studies have shown that the number of automobile accidents and strokes actually increase when the time is changed. Université de Montréal professor Roger Godbout, quoted in the Montreal Gazette, said that the time change…“causes negative impacts on the mental health and physical health of Canadians, so we should stop it.” 

The Harvard Medical School health website concurs. “Research suggests that changing our clocks twice a year can have various health consequences. Of the two, springing ahead one hour tends to be more disruptive. That hour change can upset our circadian rhythms, the body’s natural 24-hour cycles regulating key functions like appetite, mood, and sleep.” 

Professor Godbout has suggested that Quebec should adopt standard time (which we follow in the winter months) throughout the year. The survey the Quebec government has placed on its website allows members of the public to choose which they would rather follow all year long: standard time or daylight saving. 

At this time of year, the first Sunday in November, we switch to Eastern Standard Time, which helps to ensure that the sun rises a bit earlier in our day. At the winter solstice (December 21) as measured at the Town of Gaspé, the sun rises at 7:08 a.m. and sets at 3:23 p.m. If we stayed on Daylight Saving time, the sunrise in Gaspé would be at 8:08 a.m., setting at 4:23 p.m. 

It’s on the second Sunday in March that clocks are moved forward to Daylight Saving Time. This means that during the summer we can enjoy more sunlight in the evening hours than in the early morning. At the summer solstice (June 21) as measured at the Town of Gaspé, the sun rises at 4:14 a.m. and sets at 8:25 p.m. If we stayed on Eastern Standard Time all year, the sun would rise at 3:14 a.m. and would set at 7:25 p.m. 

The government website notes that the Magdalen Islands and the community of Listuguj follow Atlantic Standard Time and Atlantic Daylight Time. 

For many years, the entire Gaspé Peninsula was in the Atlantic time zone, but the Quebec government changed it to the Eastern time zone sometime in the 1960s so that the entire province would be following the same clock. When we were in the Atlantic time zone, it meant a good four hours a day out of sync with government offices and businesses in the rest of the province (opening hours, noon, closing hours). 

However, many see our inclusion in the Eastern time zone as an aberration, since it puts the Gaspé in the same time zone as cities as far west as Thunder Bay. 

Quebec launches survey on time change Read More »

Gaspésie Literacy Council aiming to serve entire territory 

Cynthia Dow, LJI Journalist

GASPE – On November 5, the Gaspésie Literacy Council (GLC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Douglastown Community Centre and online. They were joined by a number of their many local and regional partners, including Literacy Québec, Pouvoir des mots, CAMI, the North Shore Community Association, and the department of Public Health for the Integrated health and social services centres (CISSS.) 

Interim Executive Director Angelina Leggo indicated that a “comprehensive needs assessment” was undertaken this year to find out how the GLC is doing in serving its immense territory, which covers the same area as that of the Eastern Shores School Board. The assessment report relied on surveys with 73 members of the public, 18 organizations and 25 individual interviews. 

As a result, the GLC has undertaken some restructuring and has enhanced online content, including a complaint box for users. “We are focussing on how to effectively reach the whole territory,” Ms. Leggo explained, “We are not looking to grow our team, although we may have to look at that, but we will also be solidifying our partnerships.” 

The annual report outlined several projects and initiatives undertaken this past year, including the Digital Literacy Project in cooperation with the York River Seniors Centre, Vision and CASA. This project includes one-on-one tutoring to help people use online services effectively. 

Coordinator Rebecca Simon reported that the “drop-in tables” are very popular. The project has been taken to CASA’s wellness centres in Port Daniel and New Carlisle and will be present at all Vision wellness centres this year. A guide will be printed up, entitled “How to Internet Safely.” 

Meanwhile, at Gaspé Polyvalent School, the GLC offered financial literacy sessions to the Secondary 5 students. 

The financial report for the past fiscal year was not available at the time of the AGM, but will be available at the end of the month and can be sent out by email to those interested. 

As part of the restructuring, the GLC has reduced the number of board members from nine to seven, with the bylaws stipulating that at least one board member must come from the Indigenous community and at least one from the Baie Comeau/Sept Iles area. A nomination policy has also been put in place. 

The current board is composed of Mike Vigneault from CAMI, Jody Lessard from the North Shore Community Association, Kayla Gallan, Jessica Synnott, Maureen Cassivi, and Laura Comeau. One seat remains vacant. 

You can see the array of programs available from the GLC on their website at https://gaspelit.ca/ 

(Full disclosure: Cynthia Dow recently organized an event that was partially funded by the GLC.) 

Gaspésie Literacy Council aiming to serve entire territory  Read More »

 Vision celebrates 20 years at AGM 

Cynthia Dow, LJI Journalist

 enthusiastic crowd gathered on Thursday, September 19, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vision Gaspé-Percé Now at Destination Gaspé. “Twenty years is a long time to survive for a community organization,” President Tony Conoley told the crowd, “The support from the government has grown, the network of partners has grown, and the number of programs we offer has grown as well.” 

“And I don’t want to quote Donald Trump, but the number of clients is beautiful, beautiful!” exclaimed Mr. Conoley, garnering a laugh from the attendees. 

The President went on to express his appreciation for the group’s partners, board members, staff and volunteers. “This past year we continued to work hard to offer a large diversity of services and programs. We are building a youth program. We have increased our mental wellness activities and we are studying the feasibility of buying our building our own place.” 

A representative from the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages was the guest speaker for the evening.  Alexandre Renaud presented the results of a recent study which indicated how myths and misperceptions about anglophone and francophone Quebecers are still a common occurrence. SPEC will have an in-depth look at that report in our next issue. 

Every year Vision invites nominations for Volunteer of The Year. Executive Director Jessica Synnott indicated that there were eleven nominations this year. “Volunteers are very much at the heart of any community organization.” The winner was Rhonda Stewart, who has worked diligently with Camp Fort Haldimand. 

In the absence of the auditor, board member Connie Jacques presented the annual financial report. “The auditor found no problems with the report. We have a $4,000 surplus, much like last year,” Ms. Jacques explained. The AGM approved the reappointment of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton as auditors for next year. 

Vision’s communications officer, Emma McGinnis, then took the attendees through a game of Kahoot with a series of questions to emphasize the impact of the organization. Participants discovered there were almost 100 sessions for the training and retention of healthcare workers with Dialogue McGill, and three recipients of the McGill Bursary: Amy Briand-Fournier, Madison Dorion, and Gabrielle Labbé. 

Vision has added a fifth Senior’s Wellness Centre: Douglastown now joins Gaspé, Murdochville, Maison Quartier, and Barachois as a location for these activities to support seniors’ physical, cognitive and mental health. 

The Bright Beginnings program held 29 activities for children, and 10 prenatal sessions were held. Vue d’Ensemble is a two-year project to bring French and English youth together for activities such as a drama club and lunch hour games. Eight activities were held. 

More than 13,000 frozen meals were delivered to seniors last year, up an astounding 33% from 2022-23. The number of seniors also increased by 31% to 929. 

At the end of the meeting, two new board members joined the group, bringing the total to ten with one seat remaining vacant. This year’s board will include newcomers Shauna Simpson and Linda Jean, with Tony Conoley, Connie Jacques, Deborah Adams, Larry English, Jonathan Côté, Diane Kennedy, Nancy Briand, and Jonathan Jean repeating. 

 Vision celebrates 20 years at AGM  Read More »

Going out of the region for health care? Call Steve!

Cynthia Dow, LJI Journalist

CASCAPEDIA: – Travelling outside the region for health care can be intimidating and stressful, but there is help and support. Steve Guimond has been working for Travel4Health, a service established in March 2016 by the Community Health and Social Services Network in partnership with a host of regional anglophone associations including CASA, Vision Gaspé-Percé Now, Council of Anglophone Magdalen Islanders, and the Coasters Association from the Lower North Shore.

The funding for the position has come from the Quebec Community Health Foundation.
Mr. Guimond offers a range of services and supports for people who have to travel to the Quebec City area for health care. Some have to travel more than 1,000 kilometres to receive the medical care they need.
“We survived COVID and we are still here!” Mr. Guimond told SPEC during a recent interview. He noted that before his position as Patient Navigator was established, the regional groups used a printed toolkit to provide patients with information about the hospitals they were scheduled to visit and find travel services and accommodations in Quebec City.

The toolkits may still be available, but the online site at https://www.travel4health.ca/ has a host of information that can be easily accessed and walks patients through many of the issues they may face while travelling to and staying in Quebec City.

“People come to the city for a range of treatments,” Mr. Guimond explained to SPEC, “Probably number one is oncology (cancer treatments) and number two cardiology (to see heart specialists) but we also have a lot of people coming for surgery, dialysis, and MRI scans. Many regions do not yet have MRI machines.”
Mr. Guimond noted that Gaspesian patients perhaps face the most challenging travel situation, as from most other regions, air travel is relatively simple. “What people from the Gaspé Coast have to go through to get here is unbelievable,” he said, “Ten to twelve hours on a bus or in a car… two full days to get here and return, and sometimes the medical appointment lasts just 15 or 20 minutes. If changes were made, the health care system could save a lot of time and money for everyone.”

Mr. Guimond mentioned that many patients are not travelling alone, but have been allowed to bring someone to accompany them. However, eligibility to cover those expenses varies a great deal from region to region. “I sometimes see people here who really should not be travelling alone.”

There is also a serious loneliness factor for some who have to stay a long time in the city. “I am currently helping a woman who is in the hospital from May until July 3 and then must stay another 100 days in Quebec City for follow-up treatments. She also needs to remain in isolation. In cases like that, I check in regularly on people.”

He noted that representatives of the English-speaking community are working at the level of the regional access committees to highlight the issues that some patients are going through. So far, Mr. Guimond has served almost 500 patients, with support offered to just over 100 people per year, sometimes for multiple trips to the city. Altogether 1,036 interventions have been undertaken.

There have been considerable improvements already to the way patients from the regions are being treated. For example, in the past, patients who had been transported by the health care system to Quebec City were sometimes required to find their own way home. Now, those brought in by the medivac transporters are also sent home that way.

Mr. Guimond also noted a significant increase in the ability of Quebec City hospitals to respond in English to the needs of his clients. “Things have changed a lot in the local hospitals. It’s never been much of an issue with doctors, because many of them have trained in English. Now at the nursing level, the younger generation of recent recruits enjoy speaking English… and I find that the staff here really have the interests of the patients at heart. They do an incredible job in difficult circumstances, and that is not always fully acknowledged.”

However, a problem that requires a solution is the lack of English-language printed material about things like preparation for surgery and post-surgery instructions. “What’s frustrating is that all this material exists in the English institutions in Montreal. But we are told that the documentation is institution-specific, so it is not being shared.”

He said a major challenge that affects all people throughout the system is the long waiting lists for treatment.

For more information about the services he can offer, you can contact Mr. Guimond directly at 418-932-0095 or by email at navigator@qchfoundation.or. Don’t forget to check out https://www.travel4health.ca/ to help you organize your trip.

Going out of the region for health care? Call Steve! Read More »

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