Hello, friends and neighbours,
Welcome to the May edition of the AICMC newsletter. We have plenty to share this month: board news, a brand-new website, a milestone anniversary, and all the programs and events keeping our community connected this spring.
Welcoming Cathy, Thanking Sarah
We're delighted to welcome Cathy Showalter back as President and Chair of the AICMC Board.
We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Sarah Flint, Past President, for her steady guidance and leadership over the past two years. We will miss you, Sarah, and welcome back, Cathy!
Our New Website Is Live
As part of our 5th Anniversary, we've launched a fresh new website at amherstclinic.ca. It's easier to navigate, with current information on programs, upcoming community events, and how to stay involved. We'd love for you to take a look and tell us what you think.
May Is Mental Health Month in Canada
Each May, the Canadian Mental Health Association marks Mental Health Week, a time to think about how we connect with one another and the small choices that support our well-being.
This year's Come Together Canada campaign reminds us that being online isn't quite the same as being together. Sitting across from someone, sharing space, reading a smile or a shrug: these everyday moments do something for us that a screen can't quite match.
A coffee with a friend, a walk with a family member, dropping in on a community event: small, real-world connections add up. On Amherst Island, we're lucky to have so many of those moments built into the rhythm of life here.
To learn more, visit mentalhealthweek.ca (opens in new tab).
Paramedic Services Week, May 17–23
May 17–23 is Paramedic Services Week, and we want to take a moment to thank the L&A Community Paramedics (opens in new tab) for everything they do, for AICMC and for the Amherst Island community. Their partnership makes the monthly Wellness Clinic possible, and their home visits and wellness checks help so many of our neighbours stay safe and well at home.
This year's theme, Improving Outcomes, Together, reaches beyond clinical care. It's a reminder that good outcomes depend on the people behind the care: fair pay, safe staffing, mental-health support, leadership that listens, and room to grow professionally. As a partner and a community, we're grateful for the people behind the patch.
Read more about the week at emsweek.org (opens in new tab).
What's On This Spring
Balance Exercise Program: Final Session May 14
Our spring Balance Program at St Paul's wraps up on May 14. The program runs two to three times a year, so watch for the next session.
Tai Chi: Every Thursday, 10:00–11:00 am
Tai Chi continues every Thursday morning at St Paul's, taught by Marc Desrochers of the Canadian Tai Chi Academy. Heads up: classes will move to the Ag Society Pavilion for the summer.
Cost is $20 for four classes. Drop in any time. We're now in our second year on the Island, and you can learn at your own pace in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Stretch your mind and your body with us.
Wellness Clinic: Thursday, May 14, 1:00–4:30 pm
The Wellness Clinic returns to St Paul's this month after temporarily running at the Fire Hall. Held the second Thursday of every month in partnership with the L&A Community Paramedics, the clinic offers:
- Lab services
- Blood pressure checks
- Glucometer recalibration and monitoring
- Seasonal vaccines
To book bloodwork or request a home wellness visit from the L&A Community Paramedics, call 1-888-668-6058. In an emergency, call 911.
Footcare with Susan Coates, RPN
Susan Coates, RPN, has advanced footcare training and visits the Island every six weeks to provide in-home footcare. Cost is $50 per visit.
To book or ask about the program, call Susan at 613-374-2795. Leave a message and she'll return your call.
Water Testing: Next Collection Tuesday, July 7
Missed the April 27 collection? Mark your calendar for our next water testing collection date: Tuesday, July 7. Water testing is offered in partnership with Kingston Public Health Labs.
Loaves and Fishes: Returns October 15
Loaves and Fishes has wrapped up for the season and will be back on Thursday, October 15, with their free home-cooked soup and sandwich lunch every Thursday from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm (after Tai Chi) at St Paul's.
A huge thank you to the Loaves and Fishes team for providing not only a nutritious meal and a warm welcome, but a wonderful chance to sit down with neighbours, share a chat, and catch up on island news. See you in the fall!
Information Events
AICMC hosts Information Events about four times a year, led by health-care professionals on a range of health and wellness topics. Watch this newsletter and our website for the next event announcement.
Stay Connected
Beyond this newsletter, you can keep up with what's happening at AICMC through:
- Our website at amherstclinic.ca
- CJAI community radio announcements
- Our Facebook group: join here (opens in new tab)
- Posters and flyers around the Island
- The electronic board at the ferry docks
- And now, the Amherst Island Beacon (opens in new tab)!