Climate Network Lanark (CNL) got its formal start four years ago, just before the Covid pandemic took hold. Co-founders Gord Harrison and Sue Brandum, along with many volunteers, brought together 120 people at the Perth Civitan Club to launch a local organization that focuses on cutting local greenhouse gasses (GHGs). GHG emissions, which create Climate Change, are affected by many local decisions including how we heat our buildings, how we get between home, work, schools, shopping and recreation and what we do with household waste.

Throughout the pandemic, CNL educated local citizens by conducting a survey and writing articles for local media about local climate actions and concerns, and developing projects such as: support for various composting options, collection of recyclables and organic waste at events like the Stewart Park Festival, protection of wetlands, promotion of heat pumps instead of natural gas and oil for heating, and organization of events and actions to persuade provincial and local politicians to take climate action.

In 2023, through the Community Services Recovery Fund, PDCF supported CNL’s Climate Concierge Pilot Program. This program, which began in August 2023 and will run until March 2024, connects single-family homeowners to each other in clusters throughout Lanark County. It provides motivation, leading-edge knowledge, peer support, and local trade and supplier expertise so homeowners can make the best decisions, with confidence, about how to reduce their home’s greenhouse gas emissions. To date, it has helped more than 40 individual householders by educating them on climate change, retrofitting options for their specific circumstances, and navigating funding.

A member from the Perth cluster got a heat pump installed in her home in October of last year, two months after the group’s first meeting. She said, “We wouldn’t have done it without help from Climate Concierge Community Cluster. It gave us the confidence to do it.” After getting the heat pump installed, she decided to move on to properly air-seal her home.

This Spring, thanks to a 2024 Community Grant from PDCF, CNL will deliver two sets of education and networking opportunities to residents and municipal, community, and business leaders under the banner of Electrify Lanark County. These will consist of six workshops and one forum, both delivered in a hybrid format so people can attend in person and virtually. The workshops will focus on the details, for example: about the many ways to heat water electrically; about how to buy electric appliances such as induction stoves and heat pump clothes dryers; about electric transportation including EVs, lawn mowers and boat engines. The day-long forum will be a high-level exploration of how Lanark County can contribute to providing the electricity we will need and making its local power supply resilient. To keep informed, visit www.climatenetworklanark.ca

PEP – Seniors Therapeutic Centre (PEP), formerly known as Perth Enrichment Program for Older Adults, was established in 2014 by Dr Bob VanNoppen and Suzanne Rintoul, who is now Executive Director. PEP was developed in response to the growing needs of the Perth-Smiths Falls communities and to fulfill mandates set out by the Seniors Strategy of Ontario’s Action Plan for Health Care. PEP will celebrate their 10th anniversary in March 2024.

Since 2018, PDCF has provided over $19k in grants to the program. This includes funding for a physiotherapist to assess clients, providing subsidies to clients in need, and funding the purchase of a sanitizing dishwasher and blinds to adjust facility lighting for on-screen presentations. Recently, PDCF supported PEP to implement a Caregiver ID program that is now being adopted throughout Lanark Leeds and Grenville.

The Caregiver ID concept began in the United Kingdom. It is a tool that can be used to foster policies and principles of family inclusion for patient and family-centered care. PEP believes that clients and patients need the support of their caregivers, as it is often those individuals who can best assist with a loved one’s social and/or health needs. Currently, there are over 4 million unpaid caregivers in Ontario. As part of its programming, PEP hosts a free Caregiver Chat once a month where caregivers can discuss any concerns they are facing and receive support from peers and staff.

PEP’s day program provides a therapy-centered approach to care. A continental breakfast and hot lunch are served to all participants. The program includes assessments by a staff physiotherapist, nurse and recreation therapist. Each day the clients participate in one hour of stretching and strengthening exercises as well as other activities that engage their bodies and their minds.

After clients have been with PEP for about six weeks, staff sit down with them privately and listen to their concerns in order to assist them with their needs. If necessary, PEP refers them to additional resources to help meet their goals, which are most often related to staying in their own homes. The most important part of this program is providing a safe, welcoming environment where clients report they “feel comfortable being themselves and don’t ever feel judged.”

PEP helps revitalize retirement for seniors who might be lonely. There is a great deal of research that indicates that loneliness can lead to many other health concerns.

If you are interested in any of the programs offered by PEP, you can find out more by visiting their website or by dropping by. PEP operates Monday to Friday from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm at 12 Elliot St in Perth.

This article is part of a series that highlights organizations, groups and individuals doing the good work of community building here in Lanark County. View all articles by clicking on the Community Builders tag.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is in its 50th year in Lanark County. Many people know about the agency and its focus on mentoring local kids through a Big Brother or Big Sister, but this versatile agency has grown and evolved over its half a century in the County.

The agency offers free, accessible programs both in the community and in school settings. Children come from all walks of life and types of family situations. Many children struggle with various adversities, and just need a caring adult to spend time with and talk to. Big Brothers Big Sisters has skilled staff who work to match and support these children and youth with a caring, adult volunteer.

Research shows that young people who have an adult mentor in their loves achieve more – better engagement in education, higher incomes, happier lives. They grow to reach their full potential. In fact, the Boston Consulting Group states that for every $1 invested in a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program, $18 is returned to society.

Programs range from the traditional one-on-one Big Brother or Big Sister, to school based one-on-one or small group programs, to a youth centre. The agency has stepped up to offer programs that wouldn’t otherwise exist in Lanark County, filling the void for after school support for local children and youth.

The PDCF has been a long-time supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lanark County both through regular grants and by hosting a named fund for the agency. Recently, the Foundation helped support the after-school program which is attended by 48 children in Perth area schools.

Contributions to the Big Brothers Big Sisters fund can be made through the PDCF website.

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters, visit their website or call 613-283-0570.

This article is the first of a series that will highlight organizations, groups and individuals doing the good work of community building here in Lanark County. Future articles will be tagged with the Community Builders tag on our website.