Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is a federal initiative that promotes emergency preparedness across Canada, and this year it runs from May 3-9.

In light of the current pandemic and the very real threat of flooding in areas of Windsor’s east end, this is a good time to remind and encourage all residents to stay informed by signing up for the City of Windsor’s new public alerting system, Windsor Alerts.

During a major crisis such as COVID-19 and severe weather events such as flooding, City of Windsor officials will send event updates, warnings and instructions directly to you on any of your electronic devices. Non-residents working in Windsor are also encouraged to sign up using their work address.

Sign up at www.windsoralerts.ca or call 311.

Knowing our community’s unique risks, being prepared with an emergency plan (that includes Windsor Alerts) and having an emergency kit ready will help to ensure you and your family are prepared. Windsor’s Emergency Preparedness Guide is available online for assistance. We also remind everyone to check your emergency kits and replace any items that may be expiring, such as food or medication.

Learn more about Windsor Alerts, and also stay informed by following @WindsorFire1 and @CityWindsorON on Twitter for ongoing updates throughout the year.

Happy Birthday in heaven, Marg Thompson, from all who love you.

Southbound Ouellette Avenue will have lane restrictions between Park Street and Wyandotte Street West for sidewalk maintenance now until Friday, May 8 from 7am to 7pm

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Municipality of Leamington has suspended its Erie Summer Transit Route until further notice.

The Erie Summer Transit Route was initiated in 2016 as a tourism route operating on weekends during the spring/summer months to move people back and forth from Leamington’s uptown to the waterfront.

The transit route was slated to begin operation on the Friday before Victoria Day; however, with the halt of the tourism industry due to Ontario Government COVID-19 restrictions, the route has been suspended indefinitely.

Leamington Transit services within the urban area of Leamington will continue regular operations until further notice. 

Looking for more information on COVID-19 and the Municipality of Leamington?

• Visit leamington.ca/COVID-19 for the latest information on adjusted municipal services.

The Oakville Community Foundation continues to provide a free platform for post-secondary bound
students to access local educational awards. Originally announced in January, ahead of the State of
Emergency, The Foundation and its community partners combined their efforts to create a new tool for
local graduates and mature students to access education awards funding –the Community Education
Awards Hub (AwardsHub.ca)

“The Foundation views technology as a Community Asset. As such, we have invested in technology that
helps build and connect our community,” said Wendy Rinella. “With the school closures, the timing of
this online platform for students and service organizations was serendipity.”

The Awards Hub enables local organizations to virtually conduct and distribute their awards, while
ensuring students have a one-window, online access to over $325,000 in funding. Today, there are more
than 350 users on the portal, with over 230 completed applications and a further 200 more in progress.
The earliest applications are due in mid-May, so students still have time to apply.

The Awards Hub includes the following organizations: Halton Learning Foundation, The Lions Club of
Oakville, The May Court Club of Oakville, Rotary Clubs of Oakville, University Women’s Club of Oakville,
IODE (International Order of the Daughters of the Empire), The Oakville Chamber of Commerce, and The
Halton Region Chinese Canadian Associati3on. A total of $4,500 is available from The Foundation for the
Alexander and Bernice DeMaio Education Fund.

Sunday, May 3 marks the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Week, an annual information campaign which asks residents to review and improve on their ability to prepare for an emergency.

The campaign will include a number of social media posts highlighting different ways which residents can improve their preparedness. The Town will also be publishing emergency preparedness-themed activities for families and individuals of all ages as part of the Essex Plays at Home initiative.

“The current situation with the pandemic has underscored the need for residents to be prepared for an emergency,” said Essex Fire and Rescue Services Chief Rick Arnel. “While we continue to work together as a community to combat the virus, this week serves as a reminder of what we can do, as individuals, to prepare for the worst case scenario.”

If an emergency happens in the community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach residents, so they should be prepared to take care of themselves and their family for at least 72 hours. Essex Fire & Rescue Services recommends that residents keep a disaster preparedness kit in their home with enough supplies to meet their needs.

Residents should keep hazards, such as flooding and tornadoes, in mind as they prepare their Emergency Plan, which outlines what actions they will take in the event of an emergency.

Residents are also encouraged to sign up for the Essex Alerts Resident Alert System at www.essex.ca/alerts. The Town will be conducting a test of the system in the afternoon of Thursday, May 7.

For more on emergency preparedness please visit getprepared.gc.ca

The Foundation is excited to announce the launch of “Community Classroom Online (Virtual
programs),” which is now available free of charge on our website, www.theocf.org! Through the
generous support of our connecting sponsor Toronto Pearson, Genworth Canada, and
the Ontario Trillium Foundation, students, teachers and families can enjoy
curriculum-based local arts, culture, environmental, and heritage programming
online. Currently the site hosts sessions with many of our Community Classroom
partners: ArtHouse, Art from the Heart, the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton
Steel Pan Drummers, Crash Rhythm bucket drumming, Halton Environmental
Network, the Oakville Galleries, the Oakville Symphony Orchestra and more to come.
Over $30,000 in funding is being allocated to these community organizations.