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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, M ay 7, 20 20 | 14 Shelter 519.833.2287 Thrift Shop 905.702.8661 www.uppercredit.com info@uppercredit.com Charitable Registration #893738872RR0001 Thank you for your support We and all the animals thank you! UCHS is grateful for the amazing support the community has shown us during this difficult time. Rent soft water Starting at$9.95 *for first three monthsmth .com 5 Mountainview Road North, Georgetown 905.877.6242 - info@culliganwater.ca COMMUNITY NOTICE Annual Vegetation Management Program Every year, CN is required to clear its right-of-way from any vegetation that may pose a safety hazard. Vegetation on railway right-of-way, if left uncontrolled, can contribute to trackside fires and impair proper inspection of track infrastructure. As such, for safe railway operations, the annual vegetation control program will be carried out on CN rail lines in the province of Ontario. A certified applicator will be applying herbicides on and around the railway tracks (primarily along the 16-feet gravelled area). All product requirements for setbacks in the vicinity of dwellings, aquatic environments and municipal water supplies will be fulfilled. At this time, we expect that the program will take place from May to October 2020. Visit cn.ca/vegetation to consult the list of cities as well as the updated schedule. Safety is a core value at CN and in the actual context of the COVID-19 pandemic, our employees and contractors are taking all measures to stay healthy and to protect the communities in which we operate. For more information, please visit cn.ca/covid-19-update. For more information, please contact the CN Public Inquiry Line at contact@cn.ca or 1-888-888-5909. cn.ca When Zuzana Panek tried to order N95 masks for her staff in December, she was told by her suppli- er that the masks were only being sent to front-line workers. Panek explained that 90 per cent of the clients of her company, Best Care Agen- cy, were in retirement homes and long-term care facilities. She was told she might be able to get masks by March, but her order was eventually cancelled as COVID-19 spread and supplies became more scarce. A strong advocate for wearing masks to prevent the spread of the virus, Pa- nek began looking for al- ternatives to help protect her staff as well as their cli- ents. A staff member showed her a Facebook group called Canada Sews, that was making masks. "There are a lot of peo- ple working with vulnera- ble community members, or coming into contact with a lot of people," said Heather Govender, who is running the Halton/Ham- ilton chapter. "With all that the front-line workers are doing, this is one thing we can do to help keep them safe." The masks and caps are being distributed to hospi- tals, nursing and retire- ment homes, truck drivers, grocery store workers and vet clinic. So far, the local group has delivered more than 400 masks. But there's also been an extraordinary de- mand, with requests for more than 6,000. "The requests are com- ing in faster than we can sew," Govender said. The group is looking for more people to sew, or for anyone that may have ma- terial that could be donat- ed. The group is using 100 per cent cotton or the best cotton blends to make the masks. People can also help in a number of other ways, cut- ting fabric, washing masks. Govender said though the masks are not medical grade, they can still be use- ful when personal protec- tive equipment is not avail- able. "They can still be effec- tive and can help you stop- ping spreading the virus," she said. Panek's company, and its 50 employees, was among the first recipients of the masks. "We know they are not 100 per cent but it still of- fers some protection from droplets," Panek said. "Al- ready there's a feeling of a big relief. They have helped how we're interacting with clients, because there is on- ly so much social distanc- ing you can do in health care." Canada Sews has part- nered with UPS Stores to act as a drop-off point once the masks are finished. Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to join the Canada Sews -- Hamilton/Halton Face- book page. Instructions on how to get started are pinned to the top of the page. NEWS VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT TO HELP MAKE MASKS Heather Govender is leading the local chapter of Canada Sews, which is making protective masks for front line workers to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Heather Govender photo "There are a lot of people working with vulnerable community members, or coming into contact with a lot of people." - Heather Govender HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com