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7 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,O ctober 22,2020 theifp.ca WALK-IN & FAMILY CLINIC Where good health begins 221 Miller Dr., Georgetown 905-873-1001 • GenesisHealthTeam.comWe're OPEN LATE - Call us Open 7 Days a Week Book Your Childs' Appointment Now! Back-to-School Health Checkup. supplies and learning op- portunities -- for more than 1,400 students, said Cesak. Even after learning went virtual, schools continued to apply for funds on behalf of their students over the four remaining months. "From the time that the schools closed in March to the end of June, we saw an increase in 22 per cent over the same period the prior year. We also provided sup- port to 175 students who had already received funds from HLF in that school year, which was certainly differ- ent than prior years," said Cesak. Although it's difficult to predict numbers for this school year, HLF antici- pates even more students will come to their attention with the significant eco- nomic impact of COVID-19. Less than two weeks into the current school year, 75 students from across the re- gion have already received the foundation's support. "That is still lower than this time last year, however, we expect the demand will increase once the weather turns colder and kids need warm clothing to get to school," added Sherri Arm- strong, HLF communica- tions manager. Another reason for the lower-than-expected num- ber reflects the large cohort of students learning strictly virtually and the inherent challenge for teachers to easily identify kids in need, said Armstrong. Thirty per cent of HDSB elementary students and 17.5 per cent of HDSB sec- ondary students were learn- ing virtually as of Septem- ber. With no field trips or team sports in students' foreseeable future, requests have focused mainly on food, clothing, hygiene and transportation needs, said Cesak. HLF funding comes from a variety of sources, such as individual and corporate donors and community group fundraisers, but CO- VID-19 has also impacted the much-needed revenue charities depend upon. "COVID-19 has certainly changed everybody's lives. We just want to help kids be able to stay in school (and) have those financial barri- ers to education removed," said Cesak. One longtime HLF sup- porter is CN, which recently donated $100,000 to HLF, bringing its five-year total to $800,000. "It's a privilege for CN to partner with the Halton Learning Foundation to help children who need it," said Keith Reardon, senior vice-president of consumer product supply chain for CN. "We believe strongly in serving the communities in which we operate." To make a donation, visit www.haltonlearningfoun- dation.ca. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: The number of Halton students requiring the support of the Halton Learning Foundation was increasing even before the pandemic's arrival. CO- VID-19's significant impact on the economy has only exacerbated that need. NEWS Continued from page 1 DEMAND EXPECTED TO RISE WITH COLDER WEATHER "We just want to help kids be able to stay in school (and) have those financial barriers to education removed," - Halton Learning Foundation Chair Anne Cesak It appears Halton is making a splash when it comes to drinking-water quality. The Region recent- ly earned the Directors Award from the American Water Works Association (AWWA) -- an honour that recognizes its commitment to high-quality drinking water and treatment. Of the 250 water service providers and 400 treat- ment plants that belong to the international Partner- ship for Safe Water Pro- gram, "The Ontario Water Works Association com- mends the region and its staff for their commitment to the partnership, to its on- going optimization efforts and to providing customers with the highest-quality drinking water possible," said Michele Grenier, exec- utive director of the Ontario Water Works Association, the Ontario section of the AWWA. Halton operates 12 water treatment facilities and de- livers over 65 million cubic metres of drinking water to residents and business ev- ery day. The award specifi- cally recognizes the achievements of the Bur- lington, Burloak and Oak- ville water treatment plants. "Halton Region continu- ally meets and exceeds pro- vincial drinking-water standards, and this achieve- ment is a testament to our track record," said Regional Chair Gary Carr. "I would like to commend our water treatment team for this im- portant accomplishment and thank them for their dedication to quality, con- tinuous improvement and for delivering this critical service each and every day." The AWWA's program is a collaboration of six drink- ing water organizations with a mission to improve water quality through the optimization of water-sys- tem operations. Since Hal- ton joined the partnership in 2016, regional staff have been using the processes and tools provided by the program to optimize plant performance and deliver drinking water that exceeds regulatory requirements. For more information, visit halton.ca. Halton operates 12 water treatment facilities throughout the region. Torstar file photo HALTON FIRST CANADIAN MUNICIPALITY TO WIN WATER QUALITY AWARD